a Phil Brodie Band Info Page
"Births & Deaths"
These birthdates and death dates are unique to this site,
I have been working on them for 8 years now.
PLEASE give credit or link if copied
PAGES UPDATED DAILY
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JANUARY: Charts ~ JANUARY: On This Day ~ JANUARY: Quiz
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JANUARY
SADLY DEPARTED
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RESPECT - OBITUARIES
2011 .. 2010 .. 2009 .. 2008 .. 2007 .. 2006 .. 2005 .. 2004 .. REQUESTS
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MORE BIRTHDAYS & PASSINGS & TRIBUTES
January . February . March . April . May . June . July
August . September . October . November . December
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JANUARY
BIRTHDAYS

January 1st..
1867: Lew Fields/Moses Schoenfeld (US vaudeville star, comedian, theatre manager)*20.July.1941..
1884: Oscar "Papa" Celestin (New Orleans jazz bandleader, trumpeter, singer.)*15.Dec.1954..
1892: Artur Rodzinski (Polish opera and symphonic conductor)*27.Nov.1958..
1894: Jasper Taylor (US drummer; Buffalo Bill's Wild West show/Original Washboard Band)*07.Nov.1964..
1900: Xavier Cugat (Spanish violinist, band leader; Latin-American dance music)*27.Oct.1990..
1906: Giovanni D'Anzi (Italian songwriter)*15.April.1974..
1907: Erich Schmid (Swiss composer; Tonhalle Orchestra)*17.Dec.2000..
1908: Bill Tapia/Uncle Bill/Tappy (US jazz guitarist, banjo and ukulele player)*02.Dec.2011..
1911: Roman Totenberg (Polish-American violinist, educator)*08.May.2012.
1919: Al McKibbon (American bass player; Giants of Jazz)*29.July.2005..
1919: Yoshio Tabata (Japanese singer)
1920: Antonio Virgilio Savona (Italian singer, composer, pianist; Quartetto Cetra)*27.Aug.2009..
1922: Roza Baglanova (Soviet-Kazakh soprano opera, popular music singer)*08.Feb.2011..
1923: Milt Jackson (US vibraphonist)*09.Oct.1999..
1926: Richard Verreau (Canadian tenor)*07.July.2005..
1928: Fuat Mansurov (Russian conductor)*12.June.2010..
1931: Helmut Brandt (German baritone saxophonist)* 26.July.2001..
1931: Manny Oquendo (US jazz percussionist)*25.March.2009..
1932: Giuseppe Patanè (Italian opera conductor)*29.May.1989..
1933: Joseph Koo (Chinese composer)
1936: Sonny Greenwich (Canadian jazz guitarist)
1937: Neville Dickie (UK boogie-woogie and stride pianist; solo/Rhythmakers/many sessions)
1941: Frances Yip (Hong Kong singer)
1942: Judy Stone (Australian pop singer)
1942: Joe McDonald (US vocals, harmonica, guitar; Country Joe and the Fish)
1942: Yoshio Ikeda (Japanese bass player)
1946: Winston Riley (Jamaican reggae musician and producer)*19.Jan.2012.
1946: Susannah McCorkle (US jazz singer)*19.May.2001.
1947: Leonid Chizhik (Moldavian avant-garde jazz and post-bop pianist)
1947: Frances Yip (Hong Kong singer)
1949: Paula Tsui (Hong Kong cantopop singer)
1949: Daniel E Gawthrop (American composer)
1950: Morgan Fisher (UK keyboardist, producer, writer, artist; Mott the Hoople/Morgan/Solo).
1950: Steve Ripley (US singer, songwriter, studio engineer, guitarist, inventor; Tractors)
1951: Andy Gonzalez (US jazz bass player)
1952: Urs Leimgruber (Swiss tenor jazz saxophonist)
1953: Alpha Blondy/Seydou Koné (Ivorian reggae singer)
1953: Greg Carmichael (UK guitarist; Acoustic Alchemy)
1956: Ziad Rahbani (Lebanese composer)
1958: Ren Woods (US actress, singer)
1958: Grandmaster Flash/Joseph Saddler (DJ, rapper)
1958: David Wayne (American singer, Metal Church)*10.May.2005..
1961: Eiichi Hayashi (US alto saxophonist)
1961: Sergei Babayan (US classical pianist)
1963: Michael Hanson (Canadian; original drummer for Glass Tiger).
1966: Adam Paskowitz (US singer; The Flys)
1966: Amelia Fletcher (UK singer, guitarist; Talulah Gosh/Heavenly/Marine Research/Tender Trap)
1967: John Digweed (UK disc jockey and record producer)
1967: Tim Dog/Tim Blair (American rapper)
1968: Miki Higashino (Japanese composer)
1970: Fredro Starr/Fredro Scruggs (US rapper; Onyx)
1971: Phoebus/Evangelos-Phoebus Tassopoulos (Greek songwriter)
1971: Chris Potter (US alto saxophonist, multi-musician)
1972: Tom Barman (Belgian singer, guitar, film director; Belgium band dEUS)
1973: Magnus Sahlgren (Swedish guitarist: Lake of Tears)
1975: Thomas Bangalter (French keyboardist, film director; Daft Punk)
1975: Robert Westerholt (Dutch guitarist; Within Temptation)
1976: Jean Grae/Tsidi Ibrahim (South African rapper; The Roots)
1978: Tarik O'Regan (British composer)
1979: Brody Dalle (Australian guitarist; The Distillers)
1986: Lee Sung Min (Korean vocalist; boy band Super Junior)

January 2nd.
1905: Sir Michael Kemp Tippett OM CH CBE (English composer)*08.Jan.1998..
1925: Irina Arkhipova (Russian mezzo-soprano)*11.Feb.2010..
1927: Dennis ''Denny'' Coffey (UK jazz double bassist, vocals; Doug Whitton/own bands/many others).
1927: John H. McLevy (Scottish trumpet & Flugelhorn; Jack Watmore/George Elrick/many others)*27.Nov.2002.
1930: Julius LaRosa (US singer)
1933: Judd Proctor (UK jazz guitarist, mandolin, vocalis; Ray Ellington/Zetland Players/others/many sessions).
1936: Roger Miller (US country singer)*25.Oct.1992..
1936: John Edward Bennett (UK jazz trombonist, vocals; Trevor Williams/Terry Lightfoot/ Kenny Ball).
1935: Neil Downing (Irish writer, delta blues musician).
1943: Baris Manço (Turkish singer, television producer)*31.Jan.1999..
1943: Donald ''Don'' Parfitt (UK organist; The Puppets).
1944: Péter Eötvös (Hungarian composer and conductor)
1946: Richard Cole (UK tour manager; Led Zeppelin/Eric Clapton/Black Sabbath/many others)
1946: Chick Churchill/Michael George Churchill (UK keyboards, organ; Sons of Adam/Jaybirds/Ten Years After).
1947: Adrian ''Ade'' Shaw (UK bassist, vocalist; Magic Muscle, Hawkwind, Bevis Frond).
1948: Kerry Minnear (UK multi-instrumentalist, composers, arrangers; Gentle Giant).
1948: Keith Forsey (UK soundtrack composer , drummer , songwriter, record producer)
1950: David Shifrin (American classical clarinetist).
1952: Graeme "Shirl" Strachan (Australian rock singer; Skyhooks)*29.Aug.2001..
1952: Christine Lavin (US folksinger-songwriter).
1954: Dawn Silva (US singer; The Brides of Funkenstein/P-Funk).
1954: Glenn Goins (singer, guitarist; Parliament/Quazar)*29.July.1978..
1955: Vivien Savage (French singer)
1958: Vladimir Ovchinnikov (Russian classical pianist).
1963: Keith Gregory (UK bassist; Wedding Present/Cha Cha Cohen)?
1967: Robert Gregory (UK drummer; Babybird)?
1970: Robert Fertitta (American opera singer).
1970: Eric Whitacre (US composer).
1970: Sanda Ladosi (Romanian singer).
1971: Renee Elise Goldsberry (American actress and singer).
1971: Skoob/Books/Willie Hines (hip-hop,rapper; Das EFX).
1972: Christopher Lennertz (US composer)
1975: Chris Cheney (Australian singer, guitarist; The Living End).
1975: Douglas Robb (US lead singer, guitars; Hoobastank).
1981: Kelton "LDB" Kessee (US singer; Immature).
1986: Troy Andrews aka Trombone Shorty (US trombone and trumpet player)
1985: Luis Beza (US trumpet player; Suburban Legends/sessionist).
1987: Syesha Mercado (US singer, actress)
1993: Tyler Rix (British classical saxophonist)

January 3rd.
1895: Borys Lyatoshynsky (Ukrainian composer, conductor, teacher)*15.April.1968.
1902: Preston Jackson/James Preston McDonald (American trombonist)*12.Nov.1983.
1909: Victor Borge (Danish pianist, humorist)*23.Dec.2000.
1916: Maxene Andrews (US high harmony singer; The Andrews Sisters)*21.Oct.1995.
1916: Bernard Greenhouse (US cellist; Beaux Arts Trio)*13.May.2011.
1919: Herbie Nichols (American jazz pianist, composer)*12.April.1963
1920: Renato Carosone (Italian jazz singer)*20.May.2001.
1921: Musa Kaleem (American tenor saxophonist)
1922: Ronald Smith (British pianist)*27.May.2004.
1922: Harold 'Geezil' Minerve (Cuban international freelance alto saxophonist)*04.June.1992.
1924: Nell Rankin (American opera singer)*13.Jan.2005.
1926: George Martin (UK producer; The Beatles/Humphrey Lyttleton many more)
1928: Al Belletto (US alto saxophonist)
1929: Ernst Mahle (Brazilian composer)
1936: Ray Goins (US bluegrass banjoist; Pine Fiddlers/Goins Brothers)*07.July.2007.
1938: Noel Crow (Australian bandleader, clarinetist)
1938: Ian Hunter-Randall (UK Dixieland trumpeter; Ken Barton/Terry Lightfoot/many others)*13.Feb.1999.
1939: Gene Summers (US rock/rockabilly singer)
1939: Brian Smith (New Zealand-born flautist, saxophonist;Tuby Hayes/Maynard Ferguson/Nucleus/many others)
1941: Van Dyke Parks (US songwriter, producer, keyboards, piano; session player]
1944: David Atherton (British conductor)
1945: Stephen Stills (UK guitar, keyboards, bass; Crosby, Stills & Nash/Buffalo Springfield/freelance/solo)
1946: Motohiko Hino (Japanese international drummer; many sessions)*13.May.1999.
1946: Michael ''Sprike'' Hopkins (UK lead guitarist; Gerry Levene-Avengers/Denny Laine-Diplomats/Way of Life).
1946: John Paul Jones (UK bassist, keyboards; Jet Harris-Tony Meehan/New Yardbirds/Led Zeppelin/ sessions).
1948: Rex Charles Brayley (UK lead guitarist; Love Affiar).
1954: Ross the Boss/Ross Funicello/Ross Friedman (US guitarist; The Dictators)
1955: Palmolive/Paloma Romero (Spanish born drummer; The Slits, The Raincoats)
1955: Helen O'Hara/Helen Bevington (Violin, Fiddle; Dexy's Midnight Runners/Whispers)
1964: Raymond McGinley (singer, songwriter, guitarist; Scotland's Teenage Fanclub)
1966: Martin Galway (Irish composer; computer games)
1969: James Carter (US saxophones, flute, bass clarinet; session/freelance)
1972: Nichole Nordeman (US christian singer-songwriter)
1975: Thomas Bangalter (French disc jockey of Daft Punk fame)
1977: Michelle Stephenson (UK singer, TV presenter/The Spice Girls-briefly)
1978: Kimberley Locke (American Singer)
1980: Rob Arnold (US guitarist; Chimaira)
1981: Naresh Iyer (Indian singer)
1986: Lloyd Polite (UK R&B singer)
1989: Julia Nunes (US singer, ukulele player)

January 4th.
1872: Ottilie Sutro (US pianist; duo with her sister Rose Sutro)*12.Sept.1970.
1907: Joe Marsala (US jazz clarinetist, songwriter)*04.March.1978.
1916: Lionel Newman (US conducter, pianist, TV & film music composer)*03.Feb.1989.
1923: Don Butterfield (American classical and jazz tuba player)*27.Nov.2006.
1936: John Gorman (UK singer,director for entertainment; Scaffold/Weekend TV)
1937: Grace Bumbry (US singer)
1941: Joe Renzetti (US film composer)
1942: John McLaughlin (UK jazz guitarist; Georgie Fame/Tony Meehan/Graham Bond/ Brian Auger Group/others)
1945: Vesa-Matti "Vesku" Loiri (Finnish actor, singer, flutist, comedian)
1946: Arthur Conley (US soul singer, songwriter)*16.Nov.2003.
1944: Jimmy Campbell (UK singer, songwriter; The Kirkbys/23rd Turnoff/Rockin' Horse)*12.Feb.2007.
1947: Chris Cutler (UK drummer; Henry Cow/Pere Ubu/Residents)
1954: Eugene Chadbourne (US guitarist, composer; Camper Van Chadbourne/Shockabilly)
1955: Clive Gregson (UK singer, songwriter, guitar; Clive Gregson & Christine Collister, Any Trouble)
1955: Mark Hollis (UK vocals, guitar, piano, organ, composer; Talk Talk)
1956: Nels Cline (US guitarist, composer).
1956: Bernard Sumner (UK guitarist; Electronic:Joy Division/New Order)
1957: Patty Loveless (US singer, guitarist)
1957: Gurdas Maan (Eminent Punjabi singer, actor, lyricist)
1958: Marcel Neville King (UK singer; Sweet Sensation/solo)*05.Oct.1995.
1960: Michael Stipe (US lead singer; R.E.M.)
1960: Art Paul Schlosser (US comedian, singer, song writer)
1962: Robin Guthrie (Scottish guitar, keyboards, programming; Cocteau Twins)
1962: Peter Steele/Petrus T.Ratajczyk (US singer, bassist; Fallout/Carnivore/Type O Negative)*14.April.2010.
1963: Till Lindemann (German singer; Rammstein)
1965: David Glasper (UK lead singer; Breathe/Hands To Heaven).
1965: Beth Gibbons (UK singer; Portishead)
1965: Cait O'Riordan (UK bassist; Pogues/Elvis Costello)
1966: Deana Kay Carter (US country singer, guitarist)
1967: David Berman (US poet and singer/songwriter; Silver Jews)
1967: Benjamin Darvill (Canadian harmonica, mandolin, acoustic, electric guitar; Crash Test Dummies)
1974: Ian Moor (UK singer).
1977: Timothy Wheeler (Irish guitarist, vocals; Irish band Ash)
1978: Mai Meneses/María Isabel González-Meneses García-Valdecasas (Spanish singer)
1979: Jeph Howard (US bassist; The Used).
1981: Silvy Melody/Silvy De Bie (Belgian singer; Sylver).
1983: Spencer Chamberlain (US vocalist; Underoath/This Runs Through).

January 5th.
1871: Frederick Converse (American composer)*08.June.1940.
1895: Elizabeth Cotten (US blues/folk guitarist, singer, songwriter)*29.June.1987.
1904: Erika Morini (Austrian violinist)*31.Oct.1995.
1919: Severino Gazzelloni (Italian flautist)*21.Nov.1992.
1920: Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (Italian classical pianist)*12.June.1995.
1926: John Joseph "Jack" Brokensha (Australian/US jazz vibraphonist; Australian Jazz Quartet)*28.Oct.2010.
1923: Sam Phillips (American founder of Sun Records/much more)*30.July.2003.
1929: Wilbert Harrison (US solo singer)*26.Oct.1994.
1931: Alfred Brendel KBE (Austrian classical pianist)
1932: Johnny Adams (US soul singer)*14.Sept.1998.
1940: George Malone (second tenor; Monotones)
1940: Athol Guy (Australian bass player; The Seekers)
1940: Alan Jackson (UK jazz drummer; Sounds Five/Mike Westbrook/John Surman/Howard Riley/others)?
1941: Grady Thomas (US singer; Parliament Funkadelic/Funkadelic)
1942: Maurizio Pollini (Italian pianist)
1944: Jo Ann Kelly (US blues singer,acoustic guitarist,sister of Dave Kelly;John Dummer)*21.Oct.1990.
1944: Louis Stewart (Irish guitarist, composer; George Shearing/Benny Goodman/Ronnie Scott/others)
1949: George Brown (US drummer, Kool & The Gang)
1950: Chris Stein (US guitar, song writer; Blondie)
1950: Pete Hurt (UK jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, composer; Graham Collier/many sessions)?
1950: Alan Jones (UK rhythm guitarist, vocalist; The Zanties/The Gift/Blackfoot Sue).
1951: Peter 'Biff' Byford (UK lead singer; Saxon)
1952: Alan Lovell (UK guitarist; The New Vauderville Band/The Swinging Blue Jeans).
1953: Steve Archer (US singer; The Archers)
1960: Phil Thornalley (UK songwriter/vocals/guitar; Cure)
1961: Iris Dement (country singer/songwriter)
1963: Grant Young (US drummer; Soul Asylum)
1965: Randy Thurman (US guitarist, artist, poet, composer).
1966: Kate Schellenbach (US drummer; Beastie Boys/Luscious Jackson)
1968: DJ Bobo/Peter René Cipiriano Baumann (Swiss singer, songwriter, dancer, music producer).
1969: Marilyn Manson/Brian Warner (US shock-rock singer)
1972: Sakis Rouvas (Greek singer)
1973: Phil Joel (New Zealand bassist; Newsboys)
1976: Matt Wachter (US bassist; 30 Seconds to Mars)
1985: Michael Cuccione (Canadian actor, singer)*13.Jan.2001.
1986: Teppei Koike (Japanese actor, singer)
1988: Pauline/Pauline Vasseur (French singer)
1999: Marc Yu (US pianist, violist, celloist)

January 6th.
1903: Maurice Abravanel (Greek-born conductor)*22.Sept.1993.
1908: Menachem Avidom (Israeli composer)*05.Aug.1995.
1924: Earl Scruggs (US five-string banjo virtuoso, singer)*28.March.2012.
1931: Keith Ronald Christie (UK jazz trombonist; Humphrey Lyttleton/John Dankworth/others)*16 Dec 1980.
1931: David Whitaker (English composer, songwriter, arranger, conductor)*11.Jan.2012.
1932: John Burch/John Alexander Burchell (UK jazz pianist, composer; own bands/others)*18.Apr.2006.
1933: Hector Rivera (US latin soul keyboardist, arranger, composer).
1935: Nino Tempo (American singer, actor).
1937: Doris Troy/Doris Higginson (US soul/R&B singer, solo/backup/musicals/songwriter)*16.Feb.2004.
1937: Paolo Conte (Italian singer, pianist, composer, lawyer).
1938: Adriano Celentano (Italian singer, songwriter, comedian, actor, film director, TV host).
1940: Van McCoy (US singer and producer)*06.July.1979.
1946: Roger "Syd" Barrett (UK original singer/lead guitar of Pink Floyd)*07.July.2006.
1947: Shirley Brown (US southern soul singer)
1947: Alexandra "Sandy" Denny (UK singer, piano, guitar; Fairport Convention)*21.April.1978.
1949: Joey Miskulin (US 12-bass accordion; sessionist/freelance)
1949: Chris Laurence (UK double bassist; Frank Ricotti/London Bach Orchestra/own quartet/sessionist).
1951: Kim Wilson (US frontman, harmonica; Fabulous Thunderbirds/solo)
1953: Jett Williams/Antha Belle Jett (US country singer; daughter of Hank Williams Sr)
1953: Malcolm Young (Scottish born, Australian guitarist; AC/DC)
1953: Tomislav Ivcic (Croatian pop singer, songwriter, guitarist, politician)*04.March.1993.
1959: Neil Simpson (UK bassist, 7 string bass, midi bass-synthesizer; Climax Blues Band).
1959: Kathie Sledge (US singer; Sister Sledge)
1960: Muzz Skillings (US bassist, guitar, singer; Living Colour/Medicine Stick)
1962: Michael Houser (US lead guitarist, song-writer; Widespread Panic)*10.Aug.2002.
1963: Jazzie B/Trevor Beresford Romeo OBE (UK singer, DJ, music producer; Soul II Soul)
1964: Mark O'Toole (UK bassist; Frankie Goes To Hollywood)
1964: Yuri Valenzuela Canseco (Mexican actress, singer)
1969: Tim Garbutt (UK musician; dance-metal duo Utah Saints).
1966: Sharon Cuneta (Filipina singer, actress)
1966: Andrew Wood (US singer; Mother Love Bone)*19.March.1990.
1966: A. R. Rahman (Indian composer)
1971: Gary Wiseman (US punk-rock drummer; Bowling for Soup)
1971: Irwin Thomas (Australian singer; Southern Sons)
1972: Nek/Filippo Neviani (Italian singer)
1972: Dean Turner aka Dean Dirt (Australian bassist, record producer; Magic Dirt)*21.Aug.2009.
1975: Chase Hampton (US roots soul singer)
1975: Jason King (UK radio DJ; Radio 1)
1976: Johnny Yong Bosch (US actor, singer, guitarist; Eyeshine).
1978: Nikki Einfeld (Canadian opera singer)
1981: Sache/Mike Jones (US rapper; Souf Folk)
1983: Mithra Jin (South-Korean hip hop musician)
1986: Alex Turner (UK vocalist, guitarist, songwriter; Arctic Monkeys/The Last Shadow Puppets)

January 7th.
1895: Clara Haskil (Jewish Swiss classical pianist)*07.Dec.1960.
1898: Albert Allick "Al" Bowlly (Sth African singer, songwriter, composer, band leader)*17.April.1941.
1899: Francis Poulenc (French composer)*30.Jan.1963.
1906: Henry "Red" Allen (US jazz trumpeter, singer)*17.April.1967.
1907: Nicanor Zabaleta (Spanish harpist)*31.March.1993.
1900: John Brownlee (Australian tenor)*10.Jan.1969.
1912: Günter Wand (German conductor, composer)*14.Feb.2002.
1917: Ulysses Kay (US composer)*20.May.1995.
1922: Jean-Pierre Rampal (flute virtuoso)*20.May.2000.
1922: Eric Jupp (UK-born Australian composer, arranger, conductor)*02.Jan.2003.
1932: Dennis Field (UK trumpeter, trombonist; Cy Laurie/Eric Silk/Ian Bell/Dave Keir/many others)?
1935: Kenny Davern (American jazz clarinetist, sax player)*12.Dec.2006.
1935: John Thomas Johnson (US tuba player; 2,000 film soundtracks)*16.Oct.2006.
1937: Paul Revere (US keyboards, vocals; Paul Revere & The Raiders)
1938: Rory Storm/Alan Caldwell (UK lead singer; Rory Storm & The Hurricanes)*28.Sept.1972.
1939: Lefty Baker/Eustace Britchforth (US guitar, banjo, vocals; Spanky & Our Gang)*11.Aug.1971.
1941: Iona Brown OBE (British violinist, conductor)*05.June.2004.
1942: Danny Williams (South African singer; solo)*06.Dec.2005.
1942: Horatiu Radulescu (Romanian composer, spectral music pioneer)*25.Sept.2008.
1943: Leona Williams (US singer, bassist; Helton Family Band/Loretta Lynn's band/solo)
1943: Sir Richard Armstrong (UK conductor)
1943: Jeff Bannister (UK organist, vocals, keyboardist;John Barry 7/Alan Bown Set/Swinging Blue Jeans).
1944: Mike McGear/Michael McCartney (UK singer, songwriter; Scaffold/McGough & McGear)
1945: Engin Yörükoglu (Turkish drummer; pioneering rock band Mogollar)*23.April.2010.
1945: Dave Cousins (UK guitarist,vocals,banjo,duclimer,songwriter;The Strawberry Hill Boys/The Strawbs).
1946: Andrew ''Andy'' Brown (UK drummer; The Lawman/The Fortunes).
1946: Jann Wenner (US founder, editor, publisher; Rolling Stone magazine)
1948: Kenny Loggins (US singer, songwriter, soundtrack king)
1949: Marshall Chapman (US singer/songwriter)
1950: Juan Gabriel (Mexican singer and songwriter)
1954: José María Vitier (Cuban music composer, pianist)
1956: Uwe Ochsenknecht (German actor, singer)
1959: Jon Larsen (Norwegian guitarist, composer, record producer)
1959: Kathy Valentine (US bassist; The Go-Go's)
1963: Clint Mansell (UK vocalist, guitarist, composer; Pop Will Eat Itself)
1966: Ehab Tawfik (Egyptian singer)
1972: Tom Simpson (Scottish DJ, keyboardist; Snow Patrol).
1973: Jonna Tervomaa (Finnish singer)
1974: John Rich (US bassist, vocals; Big & Rich)
1981: Rasaq/Rasaq Dayo Seriki (US rapper)
1988: Haley Bennett (US singer, actress)

January 8th.
1905: Giacinto Scelsi (Italian composer)*09.Aug.1988.
1918: Evelyn Dall (American singer, actress)*10.March.2010.
1922: Abbey Simon (US classical pianist)
1923: Giorgio Tozzi (US bass vocalist)*30.May.2011.
1924: Benjamin Lees (US classical composer)*31.May.2010.
1926: Giannis Christou (Greek composer)*08.Jan.1970.
1926: Evelyn Lear (US soprano)
1928: Luther Perkins (US country music guitarist; Tennessee Three)*05.Aug.1968.
1931: Bill Graham/Wolodia Grajonca (German-born American music promoter)*25.Oct.1991.
1932: Richard Anthony "Dick" Charlesworth (UK jazz clarinettist, bandleader)*15.April.2008.
1935: Elvis Presley (The King Of Rock 'n' Roll)*16.Aug.1977.
1935: Ian Bargh (British-born Canadian jazz pianist, composer)*02.Jan.2012.
1936: Zdenek Mácal (Czech conductor)
1937: Shirley Veronica Bassey DBE=title of Dame (Welsh singer)
1938: Yevgeny Nesterenko (Russian bass-baritone)
1940: Little Anthony/Anthony Gourdune (US singer; Little Anthony & The Imperials)
1942: Faron Ruffley (UK vocalist, Farons Flamingos/The big Three/Gerry & the Pacemakers)
1942: Valya Balkanska (Bulgarian folk singer)
1942: Jon Lucien (US smooth jazz singer-songwriter)*18.Aug.2007.
1943: Lee Jackson/Keith Anthony Jackson (UK vocals, bass; The Nice/Jackson Heights/Refugee/others)
1943: Marcus Hutson (US vocalist; The Whispers)
1944: Joel DiGregorio (US keyboardist; Charlie Daniels Band/solo)*12.Oct.2011.
1945: Jeannie Lewis (Australian actress, singer)
1945: Terry Sylvester (UK guitarist, Swinging Blue Jeans)
1945: John Petersen (US drummer, Beau Brummels/Harpers Bizarre)*11.Nov.2007.
1946: Robby Krieger (US guitarist, songwriter; The Doors/freelance).
1947: David Bowie/Ziggy Stardust/David Jones (UK singer,saxist,multi-musician,songwriter,actor,producer)
1947: Terry Sylvester (UK guitar, vocals; The Escorts/Swinging Blue/Hollies/solo)
1948: Paul King (UK guitar, kazoo, jug; Mungo Jerry/Skeleton Krew/Earl King Boogie Band)
1949: Bobby Worth/Robert Dodsworth (UK drummer; NYJO/freelance/top sessions UK & US artists).
1952: Vladimir Feltsman (Russian-American pianist)
1955: Mike Reno (Canadian lead singer; Loverboy)
1958: Marc Moreland (US rock guitarist; Wall of Voodoo/The Skulls/others)*13.March.2002.
1959: Paul Hester (Australian drummer; Split Enz/Crowded House)*26.March.2005.
1962: Chris Marion (US singer, keyboardist; Little River Band)
1967: R. Kelly/Robert Sylvester Kelly (US singer, song writer, producer)
1969: Jeff Abercrombie (US bassist; Fuel)
1971: Karen Poole (UK singer; Alisha's Attic)
1973: Sean Paul (Jamaican singer,vocal arrangement; Reggae star)
1974: Steven King (US bassist; Mansun)
1975: DJ Clue/Ernesto Shaw (US DJ and producer)
1975: Tift Merritt (US singer songwriter)
1975: Harris Jayaraj (Indian music composer)
1976: Jenny Lewis (US actress, singer-songwriter, multi-musician; Rilo Kiley)
1979: Torry Castellano (US drummer; The Donnas)
1982: William "Wil" Francis (US singer).
1983: Felipe Colombo (Argentine/Mexican actor, singer)
1985: Rachael Lampa (American singer)
1991: Asuka Hinoi (Japanese singer)

January 9th.
1898: Gracie Fields/Grace Stansfield, DBE (UK singer, music hall performer)*27.Sept.1979.
1901: Ishman Bracey (US blues singer, guitarist)*12.Feb.1970.
1909: Herva Nelli (Italian-born soprano)*31.May.1994.
1914: Liaqat Ali Salaam/Kenny (Klook) Clarke (US jazz drummer, composer)*26.Jan.1985.
1916: Vic Mizzy (US orchestra leader)*17.Oct.2009.
1920: Clive Dunn (UK singer, actor)
1926: Giannis "Jani" Christou (Greek composer)*09.Jan.1970.
1928: Palghat R. Raghu (Burmese-born Indian musician, percussionist)*02.June.2009.
1928: Domenico Modugno (Italian singer, songwriter)*06.Aug.1994.
1934: Mahendra Kapoor (Indian singer; repertoire extended to 25,000 songs)*27.Sept.2008.
1935: Sherrill Milnes (American baritone)
1937: Malcolm Cecil (UK jazz bassist, many top sessions; Grammy Award-winning record producer).
1940: Jimmy Boyd (US actor, singer)*09.March.2009.
1940: Barbara Buczek (Polish composer)*17.Jan.1993.
1940: Al Downing (US singer)*04.July.2005.
1941: Joan Baez (US folk rock singer; songwriter)
1943: Kenneth Kelley (US vocalist; The Manhattans)
1943: Freddie Starr/Frederick Fowell (UK comedian, singer;Freddie Starr-Ventures-Midnighters-Delmonts).
1943: Dick Yount (guitar, bass, drums; Harpers Bizarre)
1943: Scott Walker/Noel Scott Engel (US vocals; Walker Brothers/solo)
1944: Jack Castle (UK lead guitarist; Take Five/Mirkwood)?
1944: Jimmy Page (UK guitarist /producer, Yardbirds/Led Zeppelin/Honeydrippers/freelance)
1947: Nicholas ''Nick'' Evans (Welsh trombonist; The Phoenix Jazz Band/Graham Collier/Keith Tippett/others).
1948: William "Bill" Cowsill Jr. (US singer, guitarist; The Cowsills)*17.Feb.2006.
1948: Paul King (UK guitar, banjo, harmonica, kazoo; Mungo Jerry/King Earl Boogie Band/Skeleton Crew).
1948: Tim Hart (UK vocalist, guitar, dulcimer; Steeleye Span)*24.Dec.2009.
1948: Cassie Gaines (US singer; The Honkettes/Lynyrd Skynyrd)*20.Oct.1977.
1950: Steve McRay (keyboards, vocals; 38 Special, Ted Nugent, Sessions)
1950: David Johansen (vocals, harmonica; New York Dolls)
1950: Rio Reiser/Ralph Christian Möbius (German singer; Ton Steine Scherben)*20.Aug.1996.
1951: Crystal Gayle/Brenda Gail Webb (US singer, songwriter)
1956: Kenny MacLean (Scottish/Canadian bassist; Platinum Blonde)*24.Nov.2008.
1957: Bibie/Béatrice Adjorkor Anyankor (Ghanaian singer).
1957: Phil Lewis (US singer; L.A. Guns)
1959: Cristi Minculescu (Romanian lead singer; Iris)
1963: Eric Erlandson (guitar, Hole)
1964: Phil Hartnoll (one half of the techno duo Orbital)
1965: Haddaway/Alexander Nestor Haddaway (producer, mixing, singer)
1966: Jan Johansen (Swedish singer)
1967: Carl Bell (founder , guitarist; Fuel)
1967: Steve Harwell (lead vocals; Smash Mouth)
1967: Dave Matthews (South African-American singer, songwriter, guitarist)
1968: Al Schnier (US rock guitarist; moe)
1970: Lara Fabian (Belgian singer)
1970: Alex Staropoli (Italian keyboardist; Rhapsody Of Fire)
1970: Mia X/Mia Young (US rapper)
1971: MF Doom/Daniel Dumile (US hip hop artist)
1971: Angie Martinez (US rapper, radio talk host)
1973: Sean Paul/Sean Paul Ryan Francis Henriques (Jamaican ragga - hip hop musician)
1978: A.J. McLean/Alexander James McLean (vocals, Backstreet Boys)
1979: Tomiko Van (Japanese singer)
1987: Paolo Nutini (Scottish singer, songwriter)
1996: Paris Quinn Monroe (US singer; Clique Girlz)

January 10th.
1897: Sam Chatmon (US Delta blues guitarist, singer, multi-musician)*02.Feb.1983.
1904: Ray Bolger/Raymond Bulcao (US actor, singer, dancer; Scarecrow-Wizard of Oz)*15.Jan.1987.
1905: Albert Arlen (Australian pianist, composer, actor, director)*24.March.1993.
1910: Jean Martinon (French conductor, composer)*01.March.1976.
1915: Dean Dixon (US conductor)*03.Nov.1976.
1917: Jerry Wexler (US co-owner of Atlantic records, vice president at Warner Brothers)*15.Aug.2008.
1924: Max Roach (US bebop/hard bop drummer, composer; the greats/own bands)*16.Aug.2007.
1927: Gisele MacKenzie (Canadian singer)*05.Sept.2003.
1927: Johnnie Ray (US singer)*24.Feb.1990.
1929: Derek Hammond-Stroud (English operatic baritone)
1935: Tommy Burton (UK jazz multi-musician; /Sporting House Quartet/others)*03.Sept.2000.
1935: Ronnie Hawkins (US rockabilly singer, The Hawks)
1935: Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater/Edward Harrington (US blues guitarist,singer).
1935: Sherrill Milnes (US baritone)
1935: Georg Katzer (German composer)
1939: Scott McKenzie/Philip Blondheim (US singer; Mamas & Papas/solo).
1939: Sal Mineo (American actor, singer)*12.Feb.1976.
1940: Dr. Kattassery Joseph Yesudas (Indian playback singer, classical musician)
1941: Derry Wilkie/Derek Davis (UK vocalist; Derry-Seniors/Howie Casey-Seniors/own bands)*22 Jan 2001.
1943: Jim Croce (US guitarist, songwriter, pianist, singer)*20.Sep.1973.
1943: Malcolm Poole (UK bassist; The Artwoods).
1944: Frank Sinatra Jr (US singer)
1945: Roderick David ''Rod'' Stewart (UK singer, harmonica; Hoochie Coochie Men/Faces/others/solo)
1946: Aynsley Dunbar (UK drummer;John Mayall/Jefferson Starship/Journey/Whitesnake/sessionist)
1946: Robert "Bob" Lang (UK bassist; Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders)
1947: George Chisholm (UK jazz trumpeter, fluglehorn; Val Merral Band/John Williams Octet/others). NOT Scottish jazz trombonist George Chisholm OBE.
1948: Fayette Regina Pinkney (US singer; The Three Degrees)*27.June.2009.
1948: Teresa Graves (US actress, singer)*10.Oct.2002.
1948: Cyril Neville (US vocals, percussion, Neville Brothers)
1948: Donald Fagen (US vocalist, keyboards; Steely Dan)
1948: Mischa Maisky (Latvian cellist)
1952: Scott Thurston (US guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, session musician).
1953: Pat Benatar/Patricia Andrejewski (US singer)
1955: Luci Martin (US vocalist; Chic/solo)
1955: Michael Schenker (German guitarist; Scorpions/UFO/own bands)
1956: Shawn Colvin (US singer, songwriter, guitarist)
1958: Samira Said/Samira Bensaïd (Egyptian-Moroccan singer).
1959: Curt Kirkwood (US guitarist, singer; Meat Puppets)
1961: Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg (Italian violinist)
1964: Brad Roberts (Canadian vocals, guitar, Crash Test Dummies)
1969: Janko Kastelic (Canadian conductor).
1973: Aerle Taree (US vocalists; Arrested Development)
1974: Akari Kaida (Japanese composer)
1978: Brent Smith (US singer; Blind Thought/Shinedown)
1979: Daddy Mack/Chris Smith (US hip hop, rapper; Kris Kross)
1980: Petri "Pete" Lindroos (Finnish guitarist, vocalist; Ensiferum/Norther)
1980: Sarah Shahi/Aahoo Jahansouz (US actress, model)
1981: Inga Jankauskaite (Lithuanian actress, singer, piano player)
1981: Brian Minkyu Joo (Korean-American singer; Fly To The Sky/solo)

January 11th.
1975: Reinhold Moritzevich Glière (Soviet Russian composer of German–Polish)*23 June 1956.
1895: Laurens Hammond (inventor of the Hammond organ)*03.July.1973.
1902: Maurice Duruflé (French composer)*16.June.1986.
1910: Izler Solomon (US conductor)*06.Dec.1987.
1924: Don Cherry (US singer, NOT the trumpet player).
1924: Slim Harpo/Harmonica Slim/James Moore (US blues musician)*31.Jan.1970.
1926: Susan Reed (Irish-American folk singer, harpist and zitherist)*25.April.2010.
1930: Lula Mae Hardaway (US songwriter, mother of singer Stevie Wonder)*31.May.2006.
1933: Leonard Skinner (US school teacher; Lynyrd Skynyrd)*20.Sept.2010.
1938: Vladimir Krpan (Croatian pianist)
1942: Clarence "The Big Man" Clemons (US saxophonist; E Street Band/freelance)*18.June.2011.
1946: Tony Kaye/Anthony John Selvidge (UK keyboards; Yes/Circa).
1946: Naomi Judd/Diana Ellen Judd (US country singer, songwriter; The Judds/solo).
1948: Terry Williams (Welsh rock drummer; Dire Straits/many others).
1949: Daryl Braithwaite (Australian rock singer; Sherbet)
1949: Frederick "Dennis" Greene (US singer; The Kingsmen/Sha Na Na).
1952: Lee Ritenour (US guitarist, composer, producer; top sessionist)
1956: Robert Earl Keen Jr (US country, folk singer, songwriter).
1958: Vicki Peterson (vocals, guitar; Bangs/The Bangles/freelance).
1963: Simon Cohen (UK drummer; Roman Holliday).
1968: Tom Dumont (US guitarist; No Doubt/Invincible Overlord).
1970: Joy Nilo (Filipino composer)
1971: Mary J. Blige (US R&B, hip-hop singer).
1971: Chris Willsher (UK singer-songwriter, drummer, writer, performer)
1971: Tom Rowlands (member of the Chemical Brothers).
1972: MC Bat Commander/Christian Jacobs (US singer, actor; The Aquabats)
1977: Nadia Turner (US singer, songwriter, actress, radio/television personality).
1979: Siti Nurhaliza (Malaysian singer)
1981: Jamelia/Jamelia Niela Davis (UK singer).
1981: Tom Meighan (UK lead singer; Kasabian).
1982: Ashley Taylor Dawson (British actor and singer)
1985: Rie Fu (Japanese pop & folk rock singer, songwriter).
1985: Newton Faulkner (British guitarist, singer)
1997: Cody Simpson (Australian singer)

January 12th.
1900: Harry Roy (UK singer, swing clarinetist, bandleader)*01.Feb.1971.
1904: Fred McDowell (US blues musician)*03.July.1972.
1905: Tex Ritter/Woodward Maurice Ritter (American country music singer, movie actor)*02.Jan.1974.
1912: Huang You-di (Taiwanese musician, composer)*04.July.2010.
1916: Jay McShann (US blues and swing pianist, bandleader, singer)*07.Dec.2006.
1916: William Pleeth (British cellist)*06.April.1999.
1917: Walter Hendl (US conductor)*10.April.2007.
1926: Morton Feldman (US composer)*03.Sept.1987.
1926: Ray Price (American singer)
1928: Ruth Brown/Ruth Weston (US R&B singer)*17.Nov.2006.
1932: Hadley Caliman (US jazz tenor saxophonist)*08.Sept.2010.
1932: Des O'Connor (UK singer, comedian, TV presenter)
1931: Roland Alphonso (Jamaican tenor saxophonist; The Skatalites/Soul Vendors)*20.Nov.1998.
1930: Glenn Yarborough (US singer; Limelighters)
1936: Raimonds Pauls (Latvian Composer)
1937: Rene Netto (US clarinet/saxophone/flute; solo/session).
1937: Vicente Sardinero (Spanish baritone)*09.Feb.2002.
1939: William Lee Golden (country singer; Oak Ridge Boys/solo)
1940: Ronald Shannon Jackson (drummer; Music Revelation Ensemble/Last Exit/freelance)
1941: Long John Baldry (UK blues singer; Bluesology/Steampacket)*21.July.2005.
1944: Viktoria Postnikova (Russian pianist)
1945: Maggie Bell (Scottish rock, rock-blues singer, Stone The Crows/Midnight Flyer/others).
1945: Abe Tilmon (American vocalist with Detroit Emeralds)*06.July.1982.
1946: George Duke (US piano, synthesizer pioneer, singer).
1946: Cynthia Robinson (US vocalist; Sly & The Family Stone).
1948: John Michael Glyn Etheridge (UK jazz guitarist, composer, bandleader; Warhorse/Daryl Way's Wolf).
1949: Haneken/Kentaro Haneda (Japanese pianist; movies/video game music)*02.June.2007.
1951: Chris Bell (US guitarist, co-founder; Big Star)*27.Dec.1978.
1952: Ricky Van Shelton (US country singer).
1954: Felipe Rose (US singer, dancer; American Indian chief of the Village People/solo).
1955: Tom Ardolino (US drummer; New Rhythm and Blues Quartet aka NRBQ)*06.Jan.2012.
1959: Per Gessle (Swedish producer, acoustic guitarist, mixer; Roxette)
1959: Blixa Bargeld/Christian Emmerich (German guitarist; Einstürzende Neubauten/Bad Seeds/freelance).
1960: Charlie Gillingham (keyboards, Counting Crows)
1961: Ivo Perelman (Brazilian free jazz saxophonist).
1963: Guy Chambers (UK singer/songwriter/producer; Lemon Trees/Robbie Williams).
1963: Nando Reis (Brazilian singer, guitarist, composer).
1965: Mark Moore (UK record producer)
1965: Rob Zombie/Robert Bartleh Cummings (USsinger, songwriter, film director; White Zombie).
1968: Keith Anderson (US country music singer-songwriter)
1968: Junichi Masuda (Japanese composer)
1970: Miguel Ayesa (Australian singer, pianist; musicals)
1970: Zack de la Rocha (US rapper,poet, activist, vocalist, lyricist; Rage Against the Machine).
1970: Raekwon/Corey Woods (Hip-Hop, Rap artist; Wu-Tang Clan/solo).
1973: Dan Haseltine (singer; Jars of Clay).
1973: Matt Wong (Hawaiin bassist; Reel Big Fish).
1973: Hande Yener (Turkish popular music singer).
1974: Mel C /Sporty Spice/Melanie Chisholm (singer; Spice Girls/solo).
1975: Sarah Masen (US singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist).
1975: Jason Freese (American multi-musician; Green Day/Freelance).
1976: Miki Nakatani (Japanese actress, singer)
1977: Kris Roe (US singer, guitarist and songwriter; The Ataris).
1978: Jeremy Camp (US guitarist, singer).
1980: Amerie/Amerie Mi Marie Rogers (US R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, actress, model).
1991: Pixie Lott/Victoria Louise Lott (UK singer)
1993: Aika Mitsui (Japanese singer)
1995: Laurel McGoff (American singer)

January 13th.
1884: Sophie Tucker/Sonia Kalish (Czarist Russian (born) singer, comedian)*09.Feb.1966.
1885: James Vincent Monaco (Italian-born American composer of popular music)*16.Oct.1945.
1898: Carlo Tagliabue (Italian baritone)*05.April.1978.
1890: Steve Brown (US jazz string bassist; New Orleans Rhythm Kings/others)*15.Sept.1965.
1902: Louis "Putney" Dandridge (US bandleader, jazz pianist, vocalist)*15.Feb.1946.
1904: Richard Addinsell (British composer; Warsaw Concerto/film scores)*14.Nov.1977.
1909: Quentin "Butter" Jackson (US jazz trombonist)*02.Oct.1976.
1909: Danny Barker (jazz banjoist, singer, guitarist, songwriter, ukelele)*13 March 1994.
1921: Johnny Roadhouse (UK saxophonist; BBC Northern Variety Orchestra)*11.April.2009.
1923: Daniil Shafran (Russian cellist)*27.Feb.1997.
1926: Melba Doretta Liston (US trombone, composer, musical arranger)*23.April.1999.
1929: Joe Pass (American jazz guitarist)*23.May.1994.
1930: Bobby "Lester" Dallas (US lead singer; Moonglows)*15.Oct.1980.
1930: Earl Gilliam (US blues pianist; Joe "Guitar" Hughes/own bands/sessionist)*19.Oct.2011.
1930: Liz Anderson (US country music singer-songwriter)*31.Oct.2011.
1931: Ian Gordon Wheeler (UK clarinetist,mult-musician; Chris Barber/many others)*??.June.2011.
1934: Geoff Bradford (UK guitarist; Long John Baldry/Alexis Korner/others).
1936: Renato Bruson (Italian operatic baritone)
1937: William Richard Davis (US christian music composer; over 150 songs/Alfonso Gugliucci).
1938: Shivkumar Sharma (Indian santoor player, music composer)
1938: Daevid Allan aka Divided Alien (Australian lead guitarist; Daevid Allen Trio/Soft Machine/Gong).
1946: Al James (UK bass; Choise/Showaddywaddy).
1946: Eero Koivistoinen (Finish tenor jazz saxophonist).
1946: Bill Easley (American tenor saxophonist, multi-reed player; sessionist).
1947: John Lees (UK guitarist, vocals; Sorcerers/The Keepers/Barclay James Harvest).
1948: Edward ''Ed'' Pilling (UK lead vocalist; The Pretty Ones/Wages of Sin).
1954: Trevor Rabin (South African guitarist; Yes/solo/sessionist).
1955: Paul Kelly (Australian singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player)
1955: Fred White (US drummer; Earth Wind and Fire/Al McKay All-Stars/freelance)
1957: Don Snow (UK keyboards; Squeeze/solo/freelance).
1957: Jim Paris (UK bassist, Carmel)?
1959: James Lomenzo (American bassist with Megadeth).
1961: Suggs/Graham McPherson (UK singer, actor, radio DJ, TV personality; Madness).
1961: Wayne Coyne (US lead singer, songwriter; The Flaming Lips)
1962: Tracy Darrell "Trace" Adkins (American country music singer-songwriter).
1963: Tim Kelly (US guitarist, vocals; Slaughter)*05.Feb.1998.
1965: Wayne Coyne (bassist; Flaming Lips).
1964: David McClusky (drums; Bluebells).
1970: Shinya Yamada (Japanese drummer; Luna Sea) not Shinya, drummer of Dir en grey
1972: Park Jin-Young (Korean singer)
1980: Krzysztof Czerwinski (Polish conductor, organist).
1981: Jason James (US bassist; Bullet for My Valentine).
1984: Nathaniel Motte (US singer; 3OH!3)
1987: Lee Seung Gi (South Korean singer, actor, MC)
1989: Triinu Kivilaan (Estonian singer; Vanilla Ninja).

January 14th.
1895: Erskine Tate (US bandleader, banjoist, violinist)*17.Dec.1978.
1908: Russ Columbo/Ruggiero Eugenio di Rodolpho Colombo (US singer, violinist, actor)*02.Sept.1934.
1917: Billy Butterfield (US jazz trumpeter)*18.March.1988.
1929: Billy Walker (US country singer, guitarist)*21.May.2006.
1925: Louis Quilico (Canadian baritone opera singer)*15.July.2000.
1928: Joe Muranyi (US jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, producer, critic)*20.April.2012.
1930: Johnny Grande (US pianist, accordianist; Bill Haley and The Comets)*03.June.2006.
1930: Kenny Wheeler (Canadian trumpeter,flugelhorn, composer,arranger;many top bands & artists)
1931: Manuel Galbán (Cuban guitarist, pianist; Los Zafiros/Buena Vista Social Club)*07.July.2011.
1931: Caterina Valente (French-born Italian singer, actress, dancer).
1936: Clarence Carter (blind US singer, guitarist)
1937: Billie Jo Spears (US female country singer)*14.Dec.2011.
1938: Allen Toussaint (US singer, songwriter, producer)
1938: Jack Jones (US pop & jazz singer).
1943: José Luis Rodríguez "El Puma" (Venezuelan singer).
1943: Mariss Jansons (Latvian conductor)
1945: Jim Gordon (US drummer; Derek & The Dominos/sessionist)
1948: Tim Harris (UK drums; The Foundations).
1948: Joseph Henry "T-Bone" Burnett (US guitar, singer, songwriter, sessionist).
1949: Lamar Williams (US bassist; The Allman Brothers Band/Sea Level)*21.Jan.1983.
1956: Ben Heppner (Canadian tenor singer; (opera and classical).
1956: Étienne Daho (French singer, songwriter, record producer).
1956: Bob Bradbury (UK lead singer, guitar; Hello).
1956: Ben Heppner (Canadian tenor)
1959: Carl Smyth aka Chas Smash (UK hornist, percussion; Madness).
1959: Geoff Tate (US singer; Queensryche).
1962: Patricia Morrison (US bassist, singer; Sisters Of Mercy).
1961: Mike Tramp/Michael Trampenau (Danish singer; White Lion/Freak of Nature).
1965: Slick Rick/Richard D. Walters (UK rapper).
1965: Ellis Paul (US singer-songwriter, folk musician)
1966: Marco Hietala (Finnish vocalist, bassist)
1967: Zakk Wylde (US guitarist; Black Label Society/Ozzy Osbourne Band).
1967: Steve Bowman (US drummer, songwriter; Counting Crows).
1968: LL Cool J/James Todd Smith (US rapper).
1969: Dave Grohl (US drummer, guitarist; Queens of the Stone Age/Foo Fighters/Nirvana).
1970: Fazil Say (Turkish pianist, composer)
1978: Just Blaze/Justin Smith (US hip hop producer)
1979: John Reuben (US Christian hip hop artist).
1981: Rosa López (Spanish popular singer).
1982: Caleb Followill (US lead singer, rhythm guitar; Kings of Leon).
1988: Mikalah Gordon (US singer: American pop idol).

January 15th.
1893: Ivor Novello (Welsh singer, composer & actor)*06.March.1951.
1909: Gene Krupa (US jazz & big band drummer)*16.Oct.1973.
1913: Miriam Hyde (Australian composer)*11.Jan.2005.
1920: Yvonne King Burch (American singer; The King Sisters)*13.Dec.2009.
1925: Ruth Slenczynska (US pianist)*11.Jan.2005.
1935: Malcolm Frager (American classical pianist)*20.June.1991.
1940: Bruce McCaskill (UK guitarist, vocalist- Bluegenes/Kansas City Five; manager - Average White Band).
1941: Captain Beefheart/Don Glen Vliet (US singer, multi-musician, artist; The Magic Band)*17.Dec.2010.
1942: Edward "Sonny" Bivens (US vocalist; The Manhattans).
1943: Alphonso 'Fonce' Mizell (US record producer; Motown / Sky High Productions)*05.July.2011.
1945: Joan Johnson (US Singer; Dixie Cups).
1947: Peter Waterman, OBE (UK pop writer, producer, TV presenter).
1948: Ronnie Van Zandt (US lead vocalist; Lynyrd Skynrd)*20.Oct.1977.
1951: Martha Davis (vocals, The Motels).
1952: Melvyn Gale (UK celloist, pianist; Electric Light Orchestra).
1952: Boris Blank (Swiss keyboards, sampling, percussion, vocals,composer, arranger; Yello).
1953: Rob Gretton (UK manager; New Order/Joy Division)*15.May.1999.
1956: Miki Fujimura (Japanese singer)
1959: Peter Trewavas (UK bassist; Marillion).
1959: Sister Carol/Carol Theresa East (Jamaican reggae singer).
1960: Aaron Jay Kernis (American composer).
1961: Damian O'Neill (Irish guitarist; The Undertones).
1963: Cronos/Conrad Thomas Lant (UK vocalist, bassist; speed metal band Venom).
1964: Osmo Tapio Räihälä (Finnish composer)
1964: Saúl Hernández (Mexican singer, guitarist; Caifanes/ Jaguares).
1965: Derek B/EZQ/Derek Boland (British rapper, DJ)*15.Nov.2009.
1964: Saúl Hernández Estrada (Mexican lead singer, songwriter, guitarist; Caifanes/others).
1965: Adam Jones (US guitarist, songwriter, make-up artist; Tool/The Melvins).
1967: Lisa Lisa/Lisa Velez (vocals, Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam)
1971: Max Beesley (UK percussionist, pianist, actor; sessionist/Robbie Williams/Take That/Paul Weller).
1979: Ken Chu (Taiwanese singer, composer; F4)
1979: Young Dro/D'Juan Hart (American rapper)
1981: Howie Day (US pop singer).
1981: Pitbull/Armando Christian Pérez (US rapper)
1987: Aria C Jalali (US vocalist, guitar; Railcars)
1988: Sonny Moore (US electronic musician; From First to Last/solo).

January 16th.
1893: Daisy Kennedy (Australian violinist)*30.July.1981.
1894: Irving Mills aka Joe Primrose (US jazz music publisher)*21.April.1985.
1913: Vido Musso (Italian tenor sax/clarinet, Benny Goodman, Tommy Dorsey)*09 Jan.1982.
1914: Roger Wagner (American choral musician)*17.Sept.1992.
1917: Sandy Block aka Sid Block (US jazz bassist, Chick Webb Band, Van Alexander Orchestra)*????
1928: Pilar Lorengar (Spanish soprano)*02.June.1996.
1934: Marilyn Horne (US opera singer)
1934: Bob Bogle (US bass guitarist, lead guitarist; The Ventures)*14.June.2009.
1938: Jô Soares (Brazilian author, musician, TV personality)
1939: Ray Phillips (Welsh born lead vocals, bass guitar; Nashville Teens).
1941: Mike Waterson (UK folk singer-songwriter; The Watersons/Blue Murder)*22 June 2011.
1942: René Angélil (Canadian music executive)
1942: William Francis (US keyboardist; Dr. Hook)
1942: Barbara Lynn (US singer).
1943: Nigel Stranger (UK multi-saxophonist; Animals/Alan Price/many others/own bands)*15.March.1999.
1943: Gavin Bryars (UK composer, double bassist; The Joseph Holbrooke Trio)
1943: Brian John Peter Ferneyhough (British composer)
1943 or 44: Ronnie Milsap (US piano, keyboards, singer).
1944: Jim Stafford (US guitar, multi-musician, all round entertainer).
1946: Ronnie Milsap (US singer, songwriter).
1946: Katia Ricciarelli (Italian soprano)
1950: Damo Suzuki (Japanese singer; Can)
1951: Tommy Crain (US guitarist; Charlie Daniels Band/Crosstown Allsaters)*13.Jan.2011.
1959: Sade Adu/Helen Folasade Adu (UK singer, songwriter, composer, record producer).
1960: Mark C. Deren (US DeeJay; Mark From Holland).
1961: Kenneth Sivertsen (Norwegian guitarist, composer, poet, comedian*24.Dec.2006.
1961: Jill Sobule (US singer-songwriter)
1961: Paul Raven (UK rock bassist; Ministry/Killing Joke)*20.Oct.2007.
1962: Paul Webb (UK bassist; Talk Talk).
1965: Maxine Jones (US singer, En Vogue).
1969: Dead/Per Yngve Ohlin (Swedish black metal vocalist; Mayhem)*08.April.1991.
1970: Brendan O'Hare (Scottish drummer; Teenage Fanclub/Telstar Ponies).
1972: Greg Page (Australian guitarist, drums, keyboard, actor; The Wiggles).
1976: Stuart Fletcher (UK bassist; Seahorses/The Yard).
1978: Charles Richard "Ricky" Wilson (UK lead singer; Kaiser Chiefs).
1979: Aaliyah/Aaliyah Dana Haughton (US singer, dancer, actress and model)*25.Aug.2001.
1980: Lin Manuel Miranda (US actor, composer, lyricist).
1981: Nick Valensi (US guitar; Strokes).
1981: Beverley O'Sullivan (Irish singer, actress)*02.Nov.2009.
1982: Samuel Dylan Murray Preston (UK lead singer; The Ordinary Boys).
1983: Benyamin Sönmez (German-born Turkish cellist)*30.Nov.2011.
1984: Jared Slingerland (Canadian guitarist, programming; Left Spine Down/Front Line Assembly)

January 17th.
1905: Peggy Gilbert/Margaret F. Knechtges (US jazz saxophonist, bandleader)*12.Feb.2007.
1907: Henk Badings (Dutch composer)*26.June.1987.
1910: Sidney Catlett (US swinging jazz drummer)*25.March.1951.
1916: Tommy Reynolds (American jazz clarinetist)*30.Sept.1986.
1927: Eartha Kitt (US singer, actress, cabaret star)*25.Dec.2008.
1927: Norman Kaye (Australian actor, musician)*28.May.2007.
1928: Jean Barraqué (French composer)*17.Aug.1973.
1929: Grady Martin (US guitarist, fiddle, piano; noted session musician)*03.Dec.2001.
1934: Cedar Anthony Walton Jr (American hard bop jazz pianist).
1939: Dave Ballinger (UK drummer; The Barron Knights)
1941: Dame Gillian Weir (New Zealand organist)
1942: Ulf Hoelscher (German violinist)
1943: Chris Montez/Ezekiel Christopher Montanez (Mexican American singer).
1944: Françoise Hardy (French singer, actress)
1945: Jeffrey Harbour (UK manager, musician; Unit Four Plus Two)?
1945: William Hart (US vocals; Delfonics).
1947: Ron Skinner (UK bassist, vocalist; Shakey Vick's Big City Blues Band/Dynaflow Blues)*July.2011.
1948: Jim Ladd (US freeform 'radio format' disc jockey)
1948: Carmen Dragon (US classical harpist)*11.July.2010.
1948: Mick Taylor (UK guitar, slide guitar; John Mayalls Bluesbreakers/Rolling Stones/others/freelance).
1949: Thomas Roady (US studio & touring drummer with many top artists)*28.Nov.2011.
1953: Sheila Hutchinson (vocals; Emotions).
1953: Jeff Berlin (US international electric bass player; freelance/sessionist/guest).
1953: Carlos Johnson (US blues singer-songwriter, guitarist)
1954: Cheryl Bentyne (US singer; Manhattan Transfer/solo).
1955: Steve Earle (US singer, songwriter).
1955: Kazumasa Akiyama (Japanese guitarist).
1956: Paul Antony Young (UK bassist, singer; Streetband/Kat Kool & The Kool Kats/Streetband/Q-Tips).
1958: Jez Strode (UK drummer; Kajagoogoo).
1959: Susanna Hoffs (US rhythm guitarist, vocals, The Bangles).
1959: Momoe Yamaguchi (Japanese actress and pop singer).
1960: John Crawford (US bassist, keyboards; Berlin).
1961: Dave Collard (keyboards; Jo Boxers)?
1962: Ari Up/Ariane Forster (German-born British singer; The Slits/solo/guest)*20.Oct.2010.
1963: Cyrus Chestnut (American international jazz and blues pianist; sessionist/freelance/solo).
1963: Kai Hansen (German power metal guitarist, vocalist; Gamma Ray/Iron Savior/Freelance).
1964: Andy Rourke (UK bassist, The Smiths).
1966: Stephin Merritt (US singer-songwriter; The Magnetic Fields/The 6ths/The Gothic Archies)
1966: Shabba Ranks/Rexton Rawlston Fernando Gordon (Jamaican singer, rapper).
1967: Richard Hawley (UK singer, guitarist, songwriter; Pulp, The Longpigs)
1971: Kid Rock/Robert James Ritchie (US singer, multi-musician).
1971: Jon Wysocki (US drummer; Staind).
1971: Lil Jon/Jonathan Mortimer Smith (US rapper; Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz)
1972: Ken Hirai (Japanese R&B and pop singer).
1974: Vesko Kountchev (Bulgarian composer, violist, drums)
1975: Tom Jenkinson (UK bass guitar, synthesizer; Squarepusher)
1978: Ricky Wilson (lead singer; Kaiser Chiefs).
1980: Gareth McLearnon (Northern Irish flautist)
1981: Ray J/William Ray Norwood Jr (American actor and R&B singer).
1982: Fany Hwang (Korean singer, actor)
1982: Alex Varkatzas (American metalcore vocalist; Atreyu).
1984: Calvin Harris (Scottish music producer, vocalist)
1985: Kang-In (South Korean singer, dancer, actor, MC, DJ).
1985: Simone Simons (Dutch mezzo-soprano singer; symphonic metal band Epica).
1986: Chloe Rose Lattanzi (Australian actress and singer).

January 18th.
1904: Anthony Galla-Rini (US concert accordionist)*30.July.2006.
1913: Danny Kaye/David Daniel Kominski (singer/actor/entertainer)*03.March.1987.
1913: Giannis Papaioannou (Greek composer, musician)*03.Aug.1972.
1915: Paul Gunther (US drummer; Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown)*1996.
1915: Vassilis Tsitsanis (Greek singer and songwriter)*18.Jan.1984.
1921: Ray Sims (American jazz trombonist).
1926: Johnny Bragg (vocals, songwriter; Johnny Bragg & the Prisonaires)*31.Aug.2004.
1931: Chuck Metcalf (US jazz bass player)
1932: Irene Kral (US jazz singer; Woody Herman/Maynard Ferguson/others/solo)*15.Aug.1978.
1935: Bernard ''Bernie'' Cash (UK jazz dble bassist, trumpet, arranger; own band/many others)*07.Oct.1988.
1939: Gordon Chambers (Nth Irish trumpeter; Crescendo Jazzmen/Apex Jazz Band/Belfast Jazz Society)?
1940: Don Thompson (Canadan bassist, vibraphonist, pianist; Rob McConnell/freelance/award winner).
1940: Lindsay L Cooper (Scottish dble bassist,cello; Strawbs/many musicians & bands)*19.June.2001. not to be confused with English bassoon and oboe playerLindsay Cooper born March 3rd 1951.
1941: Bobby Goldsboro (US country-pop singer, guitar, composer).
1941: David Ruffin/Davis Eli Ruffin (US vocalist; The Temptations/solo)*01.June.1991.
1942: Martin Fierro (US tenor saxophonist; highly sort after sessionist)*13.March.2008.
1943: Dave Greenslade (UK keyboard, organ; Thunderbird/If/Colisseum/Greenslade).
1944: Al Foster (UK jazz drummer; many greats/freelance).
1944: Larry "Legs" Smith (UK drummer, tuba player, tap dancer; Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band/solo).
1945: José Luis Perales (Spanish singer)
1951: Steve Grossman (American soprano saxophonist; Elvin Jones/Miles Davis/freelance)
1951: Adrian Baker (UK singer, guitarist, songwriter; solo/sessionist/freelance).
1952: Russell Ferrante (US jazz pianist; Yellowjackets).
1952: Robert Steven Moore (US multi-musician, singer, multi-genre).
1953: Brett Hudson (US singer; Hudson Brothers).
1954: Tom Bailey (UK singer, keyboardist; Thompson Twins).
1956: Mark Collie (US country music singer, actor).
1957: Roman Schwaller (Swiss tenor saxophonist).
1959: Bob Rosenberg (music producer, remixer, DJ; Will To Power).
1961: Bobby Broom (US jazz guitarist; Kenny Burrel/Deep Blue Organ Trio/Sonny Rollins/solo).
1961: Frits Landesbergen (Dutch vibraphonist; solo/freelance).
1962: Jeremy Healy/Jeremiah Healy (UK guitarist, dj, mixer; Haysi Fantayzee/ E-Zee Possee).
1963: Jojo Mayer (Swiss drummer; Monty Alexander’s Group/guest/sessions/solo).
1967: Peter Epstein (American alto jazz saxophonist).
1969: Jim O'Rourke (US experimental rock guitarist, R.P; Sonic Youth/Illusion of Safety/freelance).
1969: Jesse L. Martin/Jesse Lamont Watkins (American actor, broadway singer).
1970: DJ Quik/David Martin Blake (American rapper and record producer).
1971: Jonathan Davis (US vocalist, multi-musician; KoRn/Sexart).
1973: Crispian Mills/Crispian John David Boulting (UK guitar, vocals; Kula Shaker).
1974: Christian Burns (UK acoustic guitar, vocals; BBMak).
1976: Damien Leith (Irish-born Australian singer; winner of Australian Idol 2006)
1977: Richard Archer (British lead singer; Hard-Fi)
1979: Jay Chou (Taiwanese multi-instrumentalist,vocalist, actor).
1982: Quinn Allman (US guitarist; The Used).
1982: Joanna Newsom (US harpist, pianist, singer-songwriter).
1983: Samantha Mumba (Irish singer, actress).
1986: Robert O'Connor (Irish singer-songwriter).
1986: Marya Roxx/Maarja Kivi (Estonian singer)
1988: Ronnie Day/Ronald Guglielmone Jr (US singer-songwriter)

January 19th.
1909: Hans Hotter (German operatic bass-baritone)*06.Dec.2003.
1917: John Raitt (US singer, actor)*20.Feb.2005.
1919: Kaifi Azmi (Indian poet, multi-award winning songwriter, composer)*10.May.2002.
1919: Ray Eberle (US vocalist with Glenn Miller Orchestra/The Modernaires)*25.Aug.1979.
1919: Israel Crosby (American jazz double bassist)*11.Aug.1962.
1925: Don Lang/Gordon Langhorn (UK trombonist, singer; Don Lang & his Frantic Five)*03.Aug.1992.
1926: Bob Wooler (UK compere, deejay, promoter)*08.Feb.2002.
1931: Horace Parlan (US hard bop & post-bop piano player).
1932: Russ Hamilton/Ronald Hulme (UK singer)*11.Oct.2008.
1935: Johnny O'Keefe (Australian singer, TV personality)*06.Oct.1978.
1936: Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (US vocalist, harmonica, drummer; Muddy Waters/others)*16.Sept.2011.
1937: Phillips Elder Wilson Jr. (US jazz trombonist, arranger, teacher).
1937: Giovanna Marini (Italian singer-songwriter)
1937: Ian "Sammy" Ralph Samwell (UK bassist, songwriter, record producer)*12 Mar 2003.
1939: Sam T. Brown (American session guitarist; Keith Jarrett/others)*28.Dec.1977.
1939: Phil Everly (singer, songwriter, Everly Brothers).
1941: Joe Butler (vocals; Lovin Spoonful).
1942: Michael Crawford/Michael Patrick Dumbell-Smith (UK actor, singer).
1943: Ray Pizzi (US jazz bassoonist and multi-reedist).
1943: Janis Joplin (US singer, songwriter; Big Brother & The Holding Company/others)*04.Oct.1970.
1944: Shelley Fabares (US actress, singer).
1944: Laurie London (UK actor, boy singer).
1945: Trevor Williams (UK bass guitarist, vocalist, lyricist; Audience/Nashville Teens/others)
1946: Dolly Parton (US singer, songwriter, actress).
1946: John David/John David Williams (Welsh bassist; The Raiders/The Human Beans/Love Sculpture).
1947: Roderick "Rod" Evans (UK singer; Deep Purple/Captain Beyond/The Maze/The Horizons).
1948: Harvey Hinsley (UK guitarist, singer; Crescents/Outlaws/Roy Young/Black Claw/Hot Chocolate).
1949: Robert Palmer (UK guitarist, singer, and songwriter,)*26.Sept.2003.
1951: Dewey Bunnell (Anglo-American singer; America).
1951: Martha Davis (UK vocalist; The Motels).
1954: Francis Buchholz (German bassist; Scorpions).
1954: Katey Sagal (American actress, singer, writer).
1955: Sir Simon Denis Rattle, CBE, FRSA (English conductor; Birmingham S.O/Berlin Philharmonic).
1956: Carman Dominic Licciardello (US Contemporary Christian multi-musician, writer).
1957: Mickey Virtue (UK keyboardist; UB40).
1960: Joe Magnarelli (American trumpeter).
1962: Darren 'Wiz' Brown (UK lead-singer, guitarist; Serpico/Mega City Four/Ipanema)*06.Dec.2006.
1963: Caron Wheeler (UK vocalist, Soul II Soul).
1964: Ricardo Arjona (Guatemalan composer, singer, basketball player).
1966: Lena Philipsson (Swedish singer; Eurovision Song Contest 2004).
1968: Whitfield Crane (US lead singer; Ugly Kid Joe).
1969: Trey Lorenz (US singer, songwriter).
1971: John Wozniak (US lead singer, guitarist, song writer; Marcy Playground).
1972: Angham Mohamed Ali Suleiman (Egyptian singer, record producer, actress)
1973: Antero Manninen (Finnish cellist)
1975: Noah Georgeson (US multi-musician, singer, producer)
1977: Nicole/Denisse Lillian Laval Soza (Chilean singer)
1977: Cocco/Satoko Makishi (Japanese singer)
1978: Ricky Wilson (UK lead singer; Kaiser Chiefs).
1978: VL Mike/Michael Allen (American rapper)*20.April.2008.
1979: Wiley/Richard Kylea Cowie (UK rapper)
1980: Kotoko (Japanese singer)
1982: Angela Chang (Taiwanese singer, actress)
1983: Utada Hikaru (American-Japanese pop singer, songwriter).
1985: Rika Ishikawa (Japanese pop vocalist; Morning Musume).
1986: Christopher Reimer (Canadian rock guitarist; Women/Dodos)*21.Feb.2012.

January 20th.
1867: Yvette Guilbert (French music-hall singer, actress)*04.Feb.1944.
1876: Josef Hofmann (Polish-American virtuoso pianist, composer)*16.Feb.1957.
1981: Mischa Elman (Ukrainian violinist)*05.April.1967.
1894: Walter Piston (US classical composer, music theorist)*12.Nov.1976.
1914: Roy Plomley (Desert Island Discs radio presenter)*28.May.1985.
1918: Juan García Esquivel (Mexican bandleader, pianist, composer)*03.Jan.2002.
1921: Connie Haines/Yvonne Marie Antoinette JaMais (American singer)*22.Sept.2008.
1923: Nora Brockstedt (Norwegian singer; Eurovision Song Contest 1960/61).
1922: Ray Anthony/Raymond Antonini (US trumpeter, bandleader, actor).
1924: Slim Whitman (American country singer, guitarist, songwriter).
1924: Johnny Hawksworth (UK composer, double bassist; Ted Heath Band).
1924: Lee Pockriss (American songwriter)*14.Nov.2011.
1926: David Eugene Tudor (US pianist, composer of experimental music)*13.Aug.1996.
1927: William A. "Bill" LeSage (UK pianist, vibraphone; Johnny Dankworth 7/others)*31.Oct.2001.
1929: Jimmy Cobb (American jazz drummer; freelance/sessions/guest).
1931: Earl Grant (US pianist, organist, singer)*10.June.1970.
1931: Hachidai Nakamura (Japanese songwriter, pianist)*10.June.1992.
1932: King Coleman/Carlton Coleman (US R&B singer. radio DJ; James Brown/solo)*11.Sept.2010.
1933: Ron Townson (US singer; Fifth Dimension)*02.Aug.2001.
1935: Dorothy Provine (US singer, dancer, actress, comedienne)*25.April.2010.
1941: Pierre Lalonde (Canadian singer, television host)
1942: William Powell (US vocalist; The O'Jays)*26.May.1977.
1943: Rick Evans (US singer, guitarist; Zager and Evans).
1943: Valery Ponomarev (Russian born jazz trumpeter).
1943: Eric London (UK bassist; Hi-Cats/The Ravens/Robin and the Ravens/Faron's Flamingos/Group One).
1944: Chuck Domanico (US bass player; West Coast sessionist)*17.Oct.2002.
1944: Farhad Mehrad (Persian rock singer-songwriter, multi-musician; Black Cats/solo)*31.Aug.2002.
1944: Howard ''Lem'' Lubin (UK lead vocalist; Unit Four Plus Two).
1945: Eric Stewart (UK guitar, keyboards, vocals, Mindenders/ Hotlegs /10cc/solo).
1946: Jimmy Chambers (US singer; Londonbeat).
1947: George Grantham (US drummer; Poco).
1947: Christoph ''Chris'' Karrer (German guitarist, composer; Amon Duul/Amon Duul II).
1948: Mel Pritchard (UK drummer; Barclay James Harvest)*28.Jan.2004
1949: Koji Kita (Japanese singer; Four Leaves)*22.Feb.2012.
1951: Ian Hill (UK bassist; Freight/Judas Priest).
1951: Ivan Fischer (Hungarian conductor)
1952: Paul Stanley (guitar, vocals; Kiss).
1954: Ken Page (US cabaret singer, actor)
1956: Riccardo Del Fra (Italian session bassist).
1957: Andy Sheppard (Award winning UK flautist and tenor saxophonist).
1960: Scott Thunes (US guitarist; Frank Zappa/Steve Vai/ The Waterboys).
1965: Nathan Moore (vocals, Brother Beyond/ Pop Idol manager)
1965: John Michael Montgomery (US country singer, rhythm).
1965: Greg Kriesel (UK bass; The Offspring).
1965: Heather Small (UK singer, M People).
1966: Tracii Guns/Tracy Irving Ulrich (US guitarist; L.A. Guns/Brides of Destruction/Contraband/others).
1969: Nicky Wire/Nicholas Allen Jones (Welsh bassist; Manic Street Preachers).
1969: Tina O'Neill (UK drummer; We've Got A Fuzzbox And We're Gonna Use It = Fuzzbox).
1970: Edwin McCain (US pop/rock singer, guitarist, composer).
1970: Mark Trojanowski (US drummer; Sister Hazel).
1970: Mitch Benn (UK comedian, songwriter, actor)
1971: Paul Albert Masvidal (US guitarist, singer; Cynic).
1971: Questlove/Ahmir Thompson (US drummer, DJ, music journalist; The Roots).
1971: Derrick Green (US singer; heavy metal band Sepultura).
1971: Gary Barlow (UK singer, pianoist, songwriter, Take That/solo).
1977: Melody/Nathalie T'Sobbel (Belgian singer)
1977: DJ Mehdi /Mehdi Favéris-Essadi (French hip hop-electro musician, producer)*13.Sept.2011.
1978: Sid Wilson (US turntablist; Slipknot)
1979: Will Young (UK singer).
1979: Rob Bourdon (US drummer; Linkin Park).
1981: Nathan Connolly (Northern Irish lead guitarist, backing vocals; Snow Patrol).
1983: Mari Yaguchi (Japanese singer; Morning Musume)

January 21st.
1899: Alexander Tcherepnin (Russian born American composer)*29.Sept.1977.
1909: Todor Skalovski (Macedonian composer)*01.July.2004.
1910: Eua Sunthornsanan (Thai composer, bandleader)*01.April.1981.
1921: Bess Lomax Hawes (US folklorist, musician, teacher)*27.Nov.2009.
1923: Lola Flores (Spanish singer, dancer, actress)*16.May.1995.
1924: Benny Hill (UK actor, comedian, singer)*20.April.1992.
1925: Derek B. ''Butch'' Collins (UK saxophonist,clarinet,flute player; Les Ernest/Howard Lucraft/others)?
1925: Telly Savalas (US singer, actor)*22.Jan.1994.
1926: Brian Brockless (English organist)*18.Dec.1995.
1930: Alec Gould (UK jazz trombonist, arranger, conductor; The Oscar Rabin Band/The Vic Lewis Band)?
1931: Rudi Maugeri (Canadian baritone singer, Radio DJ; Crew Cuts)*07.May.2004.
1936: Snooks Eaglin/Fird Eaglin Jr (US blind blues guitarist, singer)*18.Feb.2009.
1938: Wolfman Jack/Robert Weston Smith (American howling DJ)*01.July.1995.
1941: Richie Havens (US folk singer).
1941: Placido Domingo (Spanish tenor opera singer).
1942: Freddy Breck/Gerhard Brecker (German schlager singer)*17.Dec.2008.
1942: Edwin Starr/Charles Edwin Hatcher (US motown/soul singer)*02.April.2003.
1942: Mac Davis (UK singer, songwriter).
1943: Noel Burns/Noel Lawrence (UK bassist, vocalist; Johnny Mike and the Shades/ Cameleonti).
1944: Clive Robin Sarstedt aka Wes Sands (Indian born UK singer; Fabulous 5/Sarstedt Brothers).
1944: Chris Britton (UK guitarist; Chris Britton and the Redwoods/The Ten Foot Five/The Troggs).
1944: David Frederick Wright (UK vocalist, rhythm guitarist; The Troggs)*10 Oct 2008.
1946: Glen Martin (UK drummer; Ayshea Borough/Hedgehoppers Anonymous)?
1946: Nella Martinetti (Swiss singer-songwriter)*29.July.2011.
1947: Brian Dunk (UK rhythm guitarist; The Dolls)?
1947: Michel Jonasz (French singer, composer).
1947: Julian "Pye" Hastings (Scottish guitarist, singer; The Wilde Flowers/Caravan).
1947: Jimmy Ibbotson (US multi-musician; Nitty Gritty Dirt Band/solo)?
1950: Billy Ocean/Leslie Sebastian Charles (Trinidadian singer).
1954: Nigel Glockler (UK drums; Saxon).
1956: Rob Brill (US drummer; Berlin).
1958: Frank Ticheli (American composer).
1965: Jam Master Jay/Jason Mizell (DJ, rapper; founder & DJ of Run-DMC)*30.Oct.2002.
1965: Cordell Crockett (US bassist; Ugly Kid Joe)
1966: 3D/Robert Del Naja (UK singer; The Wild Bunch / Massive Attack).
1966: Wendy James (UK vocals; Transvision Vamp/Racine)?
1970: Mark Trojanowski (American drummer; Sister Hazel)
1971: Tweet/Charlene Keys (US R&B, soul singer-songwriter, guitarist).
1972: Yasunori Mitsuda (Japanese composer).
1972: Cat Power/Charlyn Marshall (US guitarist, piano, singer).
1976: Emma Lee Bunton/Baby spice (UK singer; Spice Girls)
1977: Rick Ross (American rapper).
1978: Phil Stacey (US singer;solo/American Idol finalist).
1978: Nokio/Tamir Mateen Raheem Hameed Ruffin (US singer, rapper; Dru Hill).
1979: Spider Loc/Curtis Norvell Williams (US rapper; member of G-Unit).
1980: Nana Mizuki (Japanese voice actress, singer).
1981: Gillian Chung (Hong Kong singer, actress; Twins).
1981: Andy Lee (Korean singer; Shinhwa).
1981: Alex Ubago (Spanish-Basque singer-songwriter).
1988: William Johansson (Swedish composer).
1994: BooBoo Stewart/Nils Allen Stewart Jr (US singer, actor, dancer)

January 28th.
1834: Sabine Baring-Gould (UK lyricist hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist)*02.Jan.1924.
1887: Arthur Rubinstein (Polish pianist; 5 time Grammy award winner)*20.Dec.1982.
1908: Paul Misraki (French composer, songwriter)*29.Oct.1998.
1923: Fausto Papetti (Italian alto saxophone player)*15.June.1999.
1927: Clifford ''Cliff'' Ball (UK double bassist, bassist; Kenny Baker/Oscar Rabin/Johnny Wiltshire/own/others).
1927: Ronnie Scott/Ronald Schatt (UK jazz saxophonist, Ronnie Scott's night club)*23.Dec.1996.
1929: Bernard Stanley "Acker" Bilk MBE(UK jazz clarinetist, vocals; The Acker Bilk Band/others).
1936: Jack Scott/Giovanni Dominico Scafone Jr (Canadian-born songwriter, rockabilly singer).
1936: Bill Phillips (US country music singer)*23.Aug.2010.
1938: David ''Dave'' Gelly (UK jazz alto & baratone saxophonist, clarinet & bass clarinet player; The Cambridge University Jazz Orchestra/The Dave Gelly Quirtet/Blues By Six/ Neil Ardley's New Jazz Orchestra/others).
1941: King Tubby/Osbourne Ruddock (reggae producer)*06.Feb.1989.
1943: Dick Taylor (UK bassist, vocals; Rolling Stones/The Pretty Things).
1943: Brian Keenan (US drummer; The Losers/Chambers Brothers/Manfred Mann)*05.Oct.1985.
1944: John Tavener (UK composer)
1945: Robert Wyatt-Ellidge (UK singer; Soft Machine/Matching Mole/solo).
1946: Rick Allen (US keyboardist; Box Tops).
1947: David Byron/David Garrick (UK lead singer; Uriah Heep/Spice/solo)*28.Feb.1985.
1948: Corky Laing (drums, Mountain/West, Bruce and Laing)
1950: Bob Hay (US songwriter, multi-musician; Squalls/Jolly Beggars/Noogeez/Supercluster/others).
1951: William "Billy Bass" Nelson (bassist; P Funk/Funkadelic/freelance)
1952: George Green (American songwriter; John Mellencamp)*28.Aug.2011.
1953: Chris Carter (UK synthesist; Throbbing Gristle/Chris & Cosey)
1959: Dave Sharp (Welsh guitar, vocals, The Alarm)
1959: Burkhard Dallwitz (German-born composer)
1962: Leslie "Sam" Phillips (US guitar, singer, songwriter, solo)
1963: Dan Spitz (US guitarist; Anthrax)
1967: Jan Lamb Hoi Fong (Chinese disc jockey, comedian)
1968: Sarah McLachlan (Canadian singer, songwriter)
1968: DJ Muggs/Lawrence Muggerud (US producer, DJ, Cypress Hill)
1968: Rakim/William Griffin Jr (US rapper)
1971: Anthony Hamilton (US soul singer)
1975: Tanya Chua (Singaporean singer)
1975: Lee Latchford- Evans (singer - Steps)
1976: Rick Ross/William Leonard Roberts II (US rapper; founded of Maybach Music Group)
1976: Jarrod Montague (US drummer; Taproot)
1977: Matt DeVries (US guitarist; Chimaira)
1977: Joseph "Joey" Fatone (US singer; N'SYNC).
1977: Tweety/Raphael Brown (US singer; Next)
1980: Nick Carter (US singer; Backstreet Boys)
1980: Brian Fallon (US lead singer, guitarist; The Gaslight Anthem)
1985: J. Cole/Jermaine Lamarr Cole (US rapper)
1991: Calum Worthy (Canadian actor, singer; TV/theatre/musicals/films).

January 29th.
1876: William "Havergal" Brian (UK classical composer)*28.Nov.1972.
1915: John Serry Sr (US accordionist, arranger, composer, organist, educator)*14.Sept.2003.
1923: Ivo Robic (Croatian singer and songwriter)*09.March.2000.
1924: Luigi Nono (Italian avant-garde composer)*08.May.1990.
1926: Franco Cerri (Italian guitarist)
1930: Derek Bailey (UK guitarist, founder of Incus records)*25.Dec.2005.
1933: Laci/75 Cents/Ladislav Demeterffy (Croatian singer, accordion player)*19.Nov.2010.
1933: Sacha Distel/Sacha Alexandre (French singer, guitarist)*22.July.2004.
1936: James Jamerson (US bassist; Funk Brothers/session)*02.Aug.1983.
1937: Jeff Clyne (UK jazz bassist, double bassist; Ronnie Scott/many other bands)*16.Nov.2009.
1942: Claudine Longet (French singer, dancer).
1943: Dave Millen (UK lead guitarist; The Puppets)*19.Jan.2010.
1943: Tony Blackburn (UK radio, pirate, & TV DJ; 1st D.J. on BBC Radio 1;Tony Blackburn % the Rovers).
1943: Mark Wynter/Terence Lee Lewis (UK singer, theatre actor).
1944: Steve Reid (American jazz drummer; sessionist)*13.April.2010.
1944: Andrew Loog Oldham (UK producer, impresario, author; first Rolling Stones manager).
1945: Joe Beck (US guitarist; international sessionist/solo).
1947: David Byron (UK singer; Spice/Uriah Heep/others)*28.Feb.1985.
1947: Marián Varga (Slovak organist, composer)
1952: Tommy Ramone/Thomas Erdelyi (Hungarian born drummer; The Ramones).
1953: Peter Baumann (German keyboardist, songwriter; Tangerine Dream).
1953: Louie Perez (US percussionist, guitarist; Los Lobos/Latin Playboys).
1953: Teresa Teng (Taiwanese singer)*08.May.1995.
1954: Rob Manzoli (UK singer; Right Said Fred).
1954: Richard Manitoba/Richard Blum (US singer; The Dictators/ MC5)
1959: Johnny Spampinato (US bassist; NRBQ/sessionist).
1960: James George Thirlwell/Clint Ruin/Frank Want/Foetus (Australian vocalist).
1961: Eddie Jackson (US bassist; Queensrÿche).
1961: Dave Baynton-Power (UK drummer; James).
1961: Pauline Henry (Scottish singer; Chimes).
1962: Marcus Vere (UK synthesizers; Living In A Box).
1964: Roddy Frame (Scottish guitarist, singer, songwriter; Aztec Camera).
1968: Richard Battersby (UK drummer; The Wildhearts)?
1969: Hyde/Hideto Takarai (Japanese singer; L'Arc-en-Ciel)
1974: Malina Olinescu (Romanian singer)*12.Dec.2011.
1976: Chris Castle (US singer-songwriter)
1981: Jonny Lang/Jon Gordon Langseth, Jr (US blues guitarist, singer).
1981: Álex Ubago (Spanish singer-songwriter, guitarist)
1981: Rui En (Singaporean actress, singer)
1982: Adam Lambert (US actor, singer)
1985: Mikey Hachey (US bassist; Suburban Legends)

January 30th.
1911: Roy Eldridge (US jazz trumpet player)*26.Feb.1989.
1926: John Fox (UK jazz pianist; Harold Turner Quartet/ Jack Newman Orch/John Fox Orch/others)??.
1928: Ruth Brown (US R&B singer)*17.Nov.2006.
1930: Peter "Pete" Hodge (UK jazz trombonist, euphoniumist; Mike Daniel/Sid Phillips/Mick Mulligan/others)??.
1930: Buddy Montgomery (US jazz composer, arranger, pianist, vibraphonist)*15.May.2009.
1931: Eugene "Gene" Gammage (US jazz drummer; Oscar Peterson/Max Roach/many others).
1935: Edward "Tubby" Hayes (UK tenor saxophone, jazz multi-instrumentalist)*08. June.1973.
1936: Horst Jankowski (German jazz & easy listening pianist; band leader/guest)*29.June.1998.
1940: Tony Levin (British jazz drummer; Sophia Domancich/Humphrey Lyttelton/others)*03.Feb.2011.
1941: Joe Terranova (US singer; Danny & The Juniors).
1942: Marty Balin (US singer; Jefferson Airplane).
1943: Sandy Deane/Yaguda (US singer; Jay and the Americans)?
1943: Keith ''Ginger'' Taylor (UK organist, vocalist; The Rustiks).
1947: Steve Marriott (UK singer, guitarist, songwriter; Small Faces/Humble Pie)*20.April.1991.
1946: Michael Scott Smith (US jazz drummer, percussionist)*02.Jan.2006.
1949: William King (US trumpeter; Commodores)
1951: Phil Collins (UK drums, piano, vocals; Flaming Youth/Genesis/solo).
1952: Steve Bartek (US guitarist, film composer, conductor, orchestrator.Oingo Boingo).
1959: Jody Watley (US vocals,songwriter, dancer; Shalamar).
1959: Mark Eitzel (US guitarist, singer, songwriter; American Music Club/solo).
1960: Alejandro Sokol (Argentine bassist, drummer, vocals; Sumo / Las Pelotas)*12.Jan.2009.
1964: Angie Stone (UK singer, songwriter, keyboards; Vertical Hold/Mantronix/Devox/solo).
1967: Jay Gordon (US vocalist, composer; Orgy)
1968: Trevor Dunn (US composer, bass guitarist, double bassist; Mr.Bungle/Fantômas/Secret Chiefs 3)
1972: Lupillo Rivera/Guadalupe Rivera (Mexican singer)
1975: Yumi Yoshimura (Japanese singer; Puffy Amiyumi)
1980: Josh Kelley (US singer, songwriter, guitarist, keyboardist).
1984: Kid Cudi/Scott Ramon Seguro Mescudi (US hip hop performer)
1986: Sam Duckworth (UK singer-songwriter).
1989: Khaleed Leon "Khleo" Thomas (US actor, rapper).
1990: Eiza Gonzalez (Mexican actress, singer).

January 31st.
1797: Franz Peter Schubert (Austrian composer)*19.Nov.1828.
1892: Eddie Cantor/Edward Israel Iskowitz (US singer, vaudeville performer, radio & TV)*10.Oct.1964.
1894: Isham Jones (US bandleader, saxophonist, bassist, songwriter)*19.Oct.1956.
1902 or 05: Bill Blue/William Thornton Blue (US jazz/blues clarinetist; Andy Preer Orch/others)*1968.
1906: Roosevelt "Honeydripper" Sykes (Jazz Pianist)*17.July.1983.
1907: Benny Morton (American jazz trombonist)*28.Dec.1985.
1907: Emmanuel "Manny" Sayles (American jazz banjoist, guitarist)*05.Oct.1986.
1915: Bobby Hackett (US jazz, big band trumpeter, cornet, guitar)*07.June.1976.
1915: Alan Lomax (US singer, guitarist, folklorist, musicologist)*19.July.2002.
1921: Carol Channing (US actress, singer).
1921: Mario Lanza/Alfred Arnold Cocozza (US tenor singer, actor)*07.Oct.1959.
1928: Chuck Willis/Harold Willis (Blues, R&B singer)*10.April.1958.
1932: Ottilie Patterson (Irish jazz singer; Chris Barber/Jimmy Compton/Muskrat Ramblers/Ken Smiley).
1934: Ronald John Weatherburn (UK jazz pianist, composer; Eric Silk/Kenny Ball/many others)*26.May.1995.
1936: Garnett Brown (US jazz trombonist; The Crusaders/Herbie Hancock/Lionel Hampton).
1936: Lester George Sterling (Jamaican saxophone player, trumpet; The Skatalites/solo).
1937: Philip Glass (American composer)
1939: Claude Gauthier (Canadian singer, songwriter)
1939: Brian Gregg (UK bass guitarist; Beat Boys/Johnny Kidd-Pirates/Colin Hicks-Cabin Boys/The Pack).
1940: Sandy Yaguda/Sandy Deane (US vocalist; Jay & The Americans).
1942: Tony Mann (UK session jazz drummer; Peter King/Denny Boyce/Tubby Hayes/many others).
1944: Charlie Musselwhite (American blues singer, harps).
1946: Terry Kath (US guitarist, Chicago)*23.Jan.1978.
1948: Paul Jabara (US actor, singer, songwriter; solo/stage musicals)*29.Sept.1992.
1949: Frank Ricotti (UK jazz percussionist, vibraphonist; NYJO/Alexis Korner/top sessionist/ownQuartet).
1951: Phil Manzanera/Philip Targett-Adams (UK guitarist, keyboards; Roxy Music/ Explorers/Quiet Sun/others)
1951: Harry Wayne Casey (US keyboardist; KC & Sunshine Band)
1951: Dave Benton/Efren Eugene Benita (Aruban born singer; Eurovision Song Contest 2001 winner).
1952: William "Curley" Smith (US drums, vocalist, harp; Jo Jo Gunne)
1954: Adrian Vandenburg (Dutch guitarist; Whitesnake/Manic Eden/Little Caesar)
1956: Johnny Rotten/John Lydon (UK singer; Sex Pistols/Public Image Ltd/Time Zone)
1961: Lloyd Cole (UK lead vocals, guitar; Lloyd Cole and the Commotions).
1962: Sophie Muller (UK music video director)
1964: Billey Shamrock Gleissner (Swedish singer, stand-up comedian, songwriter).
1964: Jeff Hanneman (US guitarist; Slayer).
1966: Al Doughty/Alan Jaworski (UK bass; Jesus Jones).
1967: Chad Channing (US drummer; Nirvana/The Fire Ants/Redband/East Of The Equator)
1967: Jason Cooper (UK drummer; The Cure)
1967: Fat Mike/Michael John Burkett (US bassist; NOFX/Me First/Gimme Gimmes).
1970: Danny Michel (Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist)
1970: Chen Lin (Chinese pop singer)*31.Oct.2009.
1977: Shingo Katori (Japanese actor, singer; SMAP)
1978: Ray Shah (Irish DJ, TV, radio presenter)
1980: Ryan Kienle (US bassist; Matchbook Romance/Fizzlewink).
1981: Justin Timberlake (US singer; N'Sync/solo)
1982: Elena Paparizou (Greek singer; Eurovision Song Contest 2005 winner).
1985: Kalomoira/Maria Kalomira Sarantis (Greek singer)
1990: Kota Yabu (Japanese actor, singer)

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LOST THIS MONTH

Died January ??
1969: Lou Breese/Luigi G. Calabrese (68) American banjo player and trumpeter, born in Milford, Massachusetts. He began violin lessons when he was five years old, but in later years he concentrated on the trumpet. He graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music and paid his way through school by playing banjo at society debut parties and campus functions in the Boston area. He went on to work with the likes of Bert Lowe and His First String Orchestra, Paul Specht and His Orchestra, Lou Calabrese and His Hot Shotss, The Capitolians, and The Georgians. Luigialso, under the name of Lou Breese had his own radio show and dance band that was popular in the 1930's and 1940's. His career covered almost all facets of the entertainment world including night clubs, theatres, radio, and films (?) b. February 10th 1900.
1988: Ilona Fehér (86) Hungarian violinist, born in Budapest, she studied with Jeno Hubay for six years at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. Between the two world wars she performed all over Europe, in particular with Willem Mengelberg and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. She lived in Budapest until 1942 when she was interned with her daughter in a concentration camp. They managed to escape in 1944, and joined Hungarian and Czechoslovak partisans until the liberation by the Soviet Red Army. She later returned to the concert stage to perform only in Soviet-controlled Eastern Europe. In 1949 she emigrated to Israel to begin a new life as a violin teacher. Her 250 pupils included some of the most outstanding violinists such as Pinkas Zukerman, Shlomo Mintz, Hagai Shaham, Ittai Shapira, Moshe Hammer and Yehonatan Berick, chamber music players Shmuel Ashkenasi and David Ehrlich (?) b. December 1st 1901.
2009: Ron Asheton (60) American guitarist and original member of The Stooges, the influential protopunk band founded in Ann Arbor in 1967, his distorted guitar was a hallmark of the Iggy Pop-led group. He appeared as guitarist on the Stooges first two albums, and later appeared as bassist for their third, "Raw Power", when he was replaced in both instrument and songwriting prominence by The Stooges' new guitar player, James Williamson. When the Stooges reformed in 2007, he once again appeared as the band's guitarist, they released "The Weirdness," their first album in three decades. Apart from The Stooges, he also played in the bands The New Order (not the UK band New Order), Destroy All Monsters, New Race, Dark Carnival, Empty Set, The Powertrane and more recently with Mike Watt, J. Mascis, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth and Mark Arm of Mudhoney among others. He was named the 29th greatest guitarist of all time in 2003 by Rolling Stone. (Found dead on his settee in his apartment in Ann Arbor, Michigan, of a probable heart attack. He had been dead for several days) b. July 17th 1948. ... NOTE: Ron Asheton's death was announced on January 6th

January 1st.
1953: Hank Williams/Hiram King Williams (29) US legendary country singer, guitarist, songwriter; he has become an icon of country music and one of the most influential songwriters of the 20th century. A leading pioneer of the honky tonk style, his songbook is one of the backbones of country music, and several of his songs are pop standards as well. He had 11 number one hits in his career, "Lovesick Blues", "Long Gone Lonesome Blues", "Why Don't You Love Me?", "Moanin' the Blues", "Cold, Cold Heart", "Hey Good Lookin'", "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)", "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive", "Kaw-Liga", "Your Cheatin' Heart", "Take These Chains From My Heart"—as well as many other top-ten hits. He is ranked No.2 in CMT's 40 Greatest Men of Country Music in 2003, behind only Johnny Cash. His son Hank Williams, Jr., daughter Jett Williams, grandson Hank Williams III, and granddaughters Hilary Williams and Holly Williams are also country musicians (died of a heart attack; before leaving the old Andrew Johnson Hotel in Knoxville, Tennessee, he injected himself with B12 and morphine. He then left in a chauffeur driven Cadillac, though contrary to popular belief, he did not have a bottle of whiskey with him. The only items found in the backseat of his car were a few cans of beer and the hand-written lyrics to an unrecorded song. When the 17-year-old chauffeur Charles Carr pulled over at an all-night service station in Oak Hill, West Virginia, he discovered that Hank was unresponsive and becoming rigid. Upon closer examination, it was discovered that Hank Williams was dead.. Over 20,000 mourners attended his funeral) b. September 17th 1923.
1972: Maurice Auguste Chevalier (83) French actor, singer, and popular entertainer; born in Paris, his trademark was a boater hat, which he always wore on stage with his tuxedo. Maurice's first working job was as an acrobat, until a severe accident turned him toward singing and making pictures. He was singing, unpaid, at a café when a member of the theatre saw him and suggested he try for a local musical. He got the part. He made a name as a mimic and a singer. His act in l'Alcazar in Marseille was so successful, he made a triumphant rearrival in Paris. He also made short films in France, the year being 1908. He joined the French Army in World War I, but was wounded, captured, and imprisoned by the Germans. While in prison, he learned the English language from fellow prisoners. After the war, he returned to making French films. When Hollywood started to make talkies, he decided to relocate to America in 1928. In 1929, he was matched up with the opeattic singer/actress, Jeanette MacDonald to make the movie, Love Parade. They made three more pictures together, the most successful being, Love Me Tonight. In the late 1930's, Maurice returned to Europe, making several French and English films. World War II interrupted his career for he was accused of being a Nazi collaborator - later being vindicated. In the 1950's, he returned to Hollywood, he was older and gray-headed. He made the movie Gigi (1958), this gave him his signature songs, "Thank Heaven for Little Girls", and "I Remember it Well". He also received a special oscar that year. In the 1960's, he continued to make a few more films, and in 1970, he sang the title song for Walt Disney's, Aristocats. This marked his last contribution to the film industry (tragically Maurice died of a cardiac arrest after surgery for a kidney problem) b. September 12th 1888.
1980: Adolph Deutsch (82) English born American composer, conductor and arranger born in London. In 1914, he started out as a "Buffalo movie house musician", accompanying silent films and he began his composing career on Broadway in the 1920s and 1930s before working for Hollywood films. He won Oscars for his background music for Oklahoma! in 1955, and for conducting the music for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers in 1954 and Annie Get Your Gun in 1950. He was also nominated for The Band Wagon in 1953 and the 1951 film version of Show Boat. For Broadway and Hollywood, he conducted, composed and arranged music, but never wrote songs. In addition to his music for westerns and his conducting of the scores for musicals, Adolph also composed for films noir, including The Mask of Dimitrios, The Maltese Falcon, Nobody Lives Forever, Some Like It Hot and the Wilder comedies The Apartment. Adolph retired to Palm Desert, California in 1961 (?) b. October 20th 1897.
1984: Alexis Korner (55) French writer, radio broadcaster, pioneering blues and jazz guitarist, sometimes referred to as "the Founding Father of British Blues". A major influence on the sound of the British music scene in the 1960s. After starting out in the Chris Barber Band in the late 40s, he and Cyril Davies started working together and in 1961, they formed Blues Incorporated, initially a loose-knit group of musicians with a shared love of electric blues and R&B music. The group included, at various times, influential musicians Charlie Watts, Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker, Long John Baldry, Graham Bond, Danny Thompson and Dick Heckstall-Smith. In 1970 he formed the group C.C.S/ The Collective Consciousness Society, in 1973, he formed another group, Snape, with Boz Burrell, Mel Collins, and Ian Wallace, and in 1981, he joined "supergroup" Rocket 88, a project led by Ian Stewart based around boogie-woogie keyboard players, which featured a rhythm section comprising Jack Bruce and Charlie Watts, among others, as well as a horn section (lung cancer) b. April 19th 1928.
1991: Buck Ram (73) American manager and songwriter to The Platters; he wrote 99% of the Platter's hits such as "Only You", "The Great Pretender", "Twilight Time", he also wrote, produced and/or arranged for The Coasters, The Drifters, Ike and Tina Turner, Ike Cole, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Ella Fitzgerald, and many others. He wrote the lyrics to "I'll Be Home For Christmas" as a 16 year old college student as a gift for his mother. In 1942, hi's publisher chose to hold the song for release because they were releasing Irving Berlin's "White Christmas" first. Not completely satisfied with the song, Buck discussed his concerns with two acquaintances in a bar. He left a copy of the song with them but never discussed it with them again. Both Buck and his publisher were shocked when the song was released. His publisher sued and won (?) b. November 21st 1907.
1994: Dewey Jackson (93) American jazz trumpeter and cornetist; he began playing professionally at an early age, with the Odd Fellows Boys' Band-1912, Tommy Evans 1916-17, and George Reynolds's Keystone Band. He played with Charlie Creath on riverboats, and then led his own Golden Melody Band from 1920 -1923. He recorded only four sides as a leader in 1926. Among his sidemen were Pops Foster, Willie Humphrey, Don Stovall, Morris White, Albert Snaer, William Thornton Blue, and Clark Terry. He continued to be a regular performer on riverboats into the early 1940s, heading his own groups and working as a sideman for Creath and Fate Marable. In 1926, he played for four months with Andrew Preer at the Cotton Club in New York City. Dewey played little in the 1940s but returned to work in the 1950s with Singleton Palmer and Don Ewell (?) b. June 21st 1900.
1997: Ivan Graziani (51) Italian singer, songwriter and guitarist born at Teramo, Abruzzo. His first band was The Serogan, which he formed in 1963 with Giuseppe Canala, Bruno Tartaglia, and Luciano Cordivani. He then played in Anonima Sound until 1972, after which he went solo, releasing his debut solo album, "Desperation", in 1973. This was followed by 16 more albums, the last being "Per sempre Ivan" released in 1999 after his death. He launched into acting in 1981 and wrote a book, Arcipielago Chieti, in 1988 (?) b. October 6th 1945.
1997: Townes Van Zandt (52) American country-folk singer-songwriter and poet; throughout his career he was widely admired by fellow songwriters, particularly in the folk and country genres, but greater fame eluded him, in part because of his unconventional vocal style and because of his erratic personal behavior. Many of his songs, including "Pancho and Lefty," "If I Needed You," and "To Live's to Fly," have been recorded by other notable performers and are considered standards of their genre. His songs have been covered by such notable and varied musicians as Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Guy Clark, Steve Earle, Merle Haggard, Hoyt Axton, Tindersticks, Devendra Banhart, Norah Jones, Lyle Lovett, Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, The Be Good Tanyas, Gillian Welch, and the Dixie Chicks. The film "Be Here to Love Me" chronicling the artist's life and legacy was released in the United States in 2006 (sadly Townes died from massive pulmonary embolus, blood clot in the lungs) b. March 7th 1944.
1997: Hagood Hardy (57) Canadian composer, pianist, vibraphonist, born in Angola, Indiana, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Trinity College in the University of Toronto. . He is best known for the 1975 single, "The Homecoming," and for his soundtrack to the Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea films. In the 1960's he played vibraphone in the bands of Martin Denny, Gigi Gryce, Herbie Mann and George Shearing. In 1992 Hagood was made a Member of the Order of Canada (?) b. February 26th 1937.
2006: Bryan Harvey (49) American singer and musician, he first gained attention in the early 1980s as singer-guitarist in a power pop band based out of Richmond, Virginia called The Dads. Popular at East Coast colleges, they released a self titled album in 1984 on CBS records. Harvey's subsequent musical career included long-time participation in the indie supergroup Gutterball, which featured former Dream Syndicate frontman Steve Wynn. Harvey's most enduring project, however, was House of Freaks, a two-man band with Richmond percussionist Johnny Hott, who had a penchant for banging on anything he could drag into the studio that made the noise he wanted. House of Freaks split in 1995. Both members were involved with the making of the most recent Gutterball outing. Bryan completed a solo album in early 1997, which remains unreleased. (He was murdered with his wife Kathryn and their two daughters Stella aged 9 and 4 year old Ruby) b. April 27th 1956.
2007: Julius Hegyi (83) American conductor and violinist born in New York City; he spent his lifetime building orchestras, founding chamber music groups and instilling a passion for music in young and old alike. His belief in contemporary music, especially American music, as conductor, violinist and mentor, brought compelling listening experiences to his audiences. He was well-known for his expert grasp of European repertoire, routinely giving commanding performances of Beethoven and Brahms, for example (?) b. February 2nd 1923.
2007: Del Reeves (74) American country singer born in Sparta, North Carolina; he became one of the most successful male country singers of the 1960s, best known for his "girl-watching" novelty-type songs such as "The Girl on the Billboard" and "The Belles of Southern Bell", both highlights from his career. He is also known for his 1968 trucker's anthem "Looking at the World through a Windshield" which proved he was capable of singing more than just novelty songs. He and his wife became a songwriting team, writing songs for the likes of Rose Maddox, Carl Smith and Roy Drusky, to name a few. He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1966, his last Opry performance was in August 2002 (emphysema) b. July 14th 1942
2007: Thaddeus "Tad" Jones (54) American music historian and researcher best known for discovering Louis Armstrong's correct birthdate. He was co-author of "Up From the Cradle of Jazz", long anticipated book on the early life of Louis Armstrong was almost complete when he died. He was also responsible for conducting numerous interviews with musicians from every period and style of New Orleans music, many of which are housed in the William Ransom Hogan Jazz Archive at Tulane University. He also served as consultant for documentaries and films (died unexpectedly from a fall) b. September 19th 1952.
2009: Walter Haynes (80) American steel guitarist and music producer who worked with such artists as Jimmy Dickens, Del Reeves, The Everly Brothers and Jeanne Pruett. He also co-wrote a number of songs including "Girl on the Billboard" - a song that became a #1 hit for Del Reeves in 1965. An addition to his time in Dickens’ Country Boys group, he worked the road with Ferlin Husky and Webb Pierce. He also worked for 13 years as a staff musician on the Grand Ole Opry. In the studio, he was versatile enough to play on such disparate recordings as Dickens’ rockabilly-fused “Hey Worm! (You Wanna Wiggle),” to Patsy Cline’s elegant “Walkin’ After Midnight” to rocker J.J. Cale’s 1971 Naturally album. He was also a member of the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame and at the time of his death he had been teaching music lessons in Bullard, Texas (?) b. 1928.
2010: Lhasa de Sela (37) American singer-songwriter who spent her adult life between Canada and France. After moving to Montreal when she was 19, Lhasa worked the bar circuit before releasing her debut album, 'La Llorona' in 1997. The album won the Quebec Félix Award in Canada for "Artiste québécois - musique du monde" in 1997 and a Canadian Juno Award for Best Global Artist, in 1998. In 1999 she joined her sister in France and Lhasa joined a circus, before moving to Marseille where she started writing songs again. She then returned to Montreal to produce her second album, 'The Living Road', which was released in 2003. She has appeared as a guest on albums with Tinderstick singing "Sometimes It Hurts", duetted with Stuart Staples singing "That Leaving Feeling" and featured on Arthur H, Jérôme Minière, and the French gypsy music group Bratsch albums. In 2005 Lhasa received the BBC World Music Award for Best Artist of the Americas. Her third and final album "Lhasa" was released in April 2009 (sadly died after a long battle with breast cancer) b. September 27th 1972.
2010: Gregory Slay (40) American rock drummer with the Birmingham, Alabama-based alternative rock band Remy Zero, who got their big break when the group's demo was heard by Radiohead, who were so impressed they invited Remy Zero to join them on their 'Bends Tour'. Remy Zero went on to record three albums, scoring hit singles with 1998's 'Prophecy' and 2001's 'Save Me', which came from their album The Golden Hum. The song was chosen as the theme tune for the WB's Superman restart show "Smallville". They disbanded in 2003. Gregory then worked on his own music in the band he founded, Sleepwell, and various other projects, including his Emmy-nominated work on the theme song for the television series 'Nip / Tuck'. He also worked frequently with his former Remy Zero band mates, most recently teaming up with guitarist Jeffrey Cain on an album produced for musician Eliot Morris called 'All Things In Time.' (tragically Gregory passed away after a life-long battle with cystic fibrosis) b. ??.??.1969.
2011: Marin Constantin (85) Romanian musician, conductor and composer, born in Urleta, he was the founder in 1963 of the Madrigal Chamber Choir and had been its conductor and director ever since. He was well-known all over the world for his expertise on Renaissance music, Baroque, Gregorian songs and Traditional Romanian music. In over 45 years, over 3500 concerts have been performed by the choir in Romania and abroad. He was also designated a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1992 (?) b. February 27th 1925.
2011: Charles Fambrough (60) American jazz bassist and composer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a member of Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers during the early 1980s. He also played with Freddie Hubbard, Airto Moreira, and Shirley Scott to name only a few (?) b. August 25th 1950.
2011: Gil Garfield (77) American songwriter and singer with The Cheers, a rock and roll vocal group that had a string of hits in the mid 1950s starting with "(Bazoom') I Need Your Lovin'", which hit No.15 on the U.S. charts in 1954. This was the first hit written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller to chart on the Pop charts in the US. They followed it up with a No.6 hit "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots", also written by Leiber and Stoller, a song about a wild-living leather-jacketed motorcyclist (died after a long battle with cancer) b. May 20th 1933.
2011: David Gurland (43) American cabaret singer; during his career, he performed at such venues as the Laurie Beechman Theatre, BB KINGS, The Bitter End, The Cutting Room, The Living Room, Downtime, CB's Gallery, The Metropolitan Room, Eighty-Eights, The Duplex , Don't Tell Mama, and The Gardenia, among many others. He was also a member of the acclaimed vocal group Uptown Express. David's honors include the MAC Hanson Award and the Back Stage Bistro Award (tragically died after a massive brain aneurysm) b. 1967.
2011: Verne Langdon (69) American musician, record producer and make-up artist, best known for his tracks "Pipe Dreams" and "The Neanderthal Stomp". Born in Oakland, California, he was known in cult monster mask circles as the creative force behind the Don Post Studios "Calendar Masks". He was also the creator of the most sought-after collector's mask, "The Zombie", and was creator-producer of the cult classic Decca LP An Evening With Boris Karloff And His Friends. With Jay Stein and Terry Winnick he created The Land Of A Thousand Faces Makeup Show in '75 and the Castle Dracula horror show in '80. He has produced, written, performed and recorded thirty one albums, his most recent album was released in March 2009, Jonathan Winters - A Very Special Time, with all music composed by himself (?) b. September 15th 1941.
2011: Flemming Jørgensen (63) Danish pop singer and actor, best known as lead singer of the band Bamses Venner/Teddy Bear's Friends. During the recent years he also released some solo albums, the latest being Tæt på /Close-up from 2010. His band was part of the Danish music scene for more than 35 years, and sold more than 3.5 million albums. He occasionally worked as an actor and 1986 he received a Robert Award for best male supporting actor of the year in the movie Ofelia kommer til byen/Ophelia comes to town (sadly died of a cardiac arrest in his home in Egå) b. February 7th 1947.
2011: Albert Raisner (88) French TV presenter and harmonica player born in Paris; he started in his childhood on the piano and violin, before taking up the harmonica in the early '30s. As a musician, he gained his reputation in the '50s as a harmonica in the trio Raisner. He wrote a book on the harmonica, which he made a history of the instrument and its major users, and traces his own musical career. On radio, he was one of the original presenters of Game of 1000 francs , and hosted the TV show Age Tender Blockhead, who received all the stars of pop music (sadly passed to pneumonia) b. September 30th 1922.
2012: Yafa Yarkoni /Yafa Abramov (86) Israeli singer born in Giv'at Rambam and dubbed Israel's “songstress of the wars”. In 1948, during Israel's War of Independence, she joined an IDF song troupe affiliated with the Givati Brigade. Bab el-Wad, a song she performed at the time, became a classic and sung every year on Israel's Memorial Day. After the war, she performed songs for a program on the Kol Yisrael radio station. Among her most well-known songs are "Don't Say Goodbye, Say I Will See You," about a soldier parting from his girlfriend before battle, and "Road to Jerusalem," about soldiers transporting food to Jerusalem when the city was under siege in 1948. In 1998, Yafai was awarded the Israel Prize, for Hebrew song. In 2005, she was voted the 153rd-greatest Israeli of all time, in a poll by the Israeli news website Ynet to determine whom the general public considered the 200 Greatest Israelis (Yafa sadly died at Reut Medical Center in Tel Aviv) b. December 24th 1925.
2012: Fred Milano (72) American doo-wop singer; born in New York, he was a member of The Belmonts who became successful in the late 1950s as Dion and the Belmonts. Their breakthrough came when "I Wonder Why" reached No. 22 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and the group appeared for the first time on American Bandstand. They followed it with the ballads "No One Knows" and "Don’t Pity Me". In March 1959, Dion and the Belmonts’ next single, "A Teenager in Love", was released, reaching No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 28 in the UK Singles Chart, and this was followed by an album, Presenting Dion and the Belmonts. Their biggest hit, "Where or When", was released in November 1959, and reached No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. In early 1960, Dion checked into a hospital for heroin addiction. Dion and the Belmonts reunited in 1966 for the album Together Again and again in 1972 for a one-off show at Madison Square Garden, recorded and released as a live album. In 2000, Fred along with the Belmonts was inducted in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (Fred sadly died three weeks after his cancer was diagnosed) b. August 22nd 1939.
2012: Nina Miranda (86) Uruguayan tango singer and composer; her first break came when she was invited to sing with an all girls group "Las Golondrinas" with whom she toured Latin America… in 1952 while waiting in a studio for colleague Ernesto Fama, the orchestra leader noticed her and asked her to substitute immediately in a recording session for a singer that did not work out… the piece recorded that day, "Maula", became an instant major hit…this led to an invitation to perform in the play "Tu Cuna Fue Un Conventillo" which had great success and where she premiered another hit "Tu Corazon"… many events followed including the creation of her own group… she wrote the lyrics to the tango "No Hagas Caso a La Gente" and the music to "Cancion Para Mi Amor" which was recorded by Colombian star Mirta Perez (?) b. November 8th 1925.
2012: Anders Frandsen (51) Danish singer and TV presenter. He came to fame in 1991 when he won The Danish national final for the Eurovision Song Contest) with the song "Lige der hvor hjertet slår" and was placed 19th in Eurovision Song Contest. The following year at the Danish national final, he was the host, after which he became a TV host on TV3 for the next few years. He appeared on lots of shows like "Knald eller Fald" (a dating programme), "Stjerneskud" (a talent competition for look-alikes), and also presented the network's morning TV. At the Danish national final in 2001, presenting one of the songs, and also guest-starred in an episode of Ørnen and in 2005 he guest-starred in an episode of the Danish TV show Twist & Shout (On the evening of Jan 1st 2012, Anders was found lifeless in his apartment by friends. He was pronounced dead on site and Danish Police have said they are treating his death as suspicious due to circumstances) b. December 8th 1960.

January 2nd.
1915: Karl Goldmark (84) Hungarian composer; he was largely self-taught as a composer. He first supported himself in Vienna playing the violin in theatre orchestras, at the Carlstheater. One of his many works The Rustic Wedding Symphony , Op. 26 which premiered 1876, a work that was kept in the repertory by Sir Thomas Beecham, includes five movements, like a suite composed of coloristic tone poems: a wedding march with variations depicting the wedding guests, a nuptial song, a serenade, a dialogue between the bride and groom in a garden, and a dance movement (?) b. May 18th 1830
1924: Sabine Baring-Gould (89) English hagiographer, antiquarian, novelist born in Exeter. His bibliography consists of more than 1240 publications, though this list continues to grow. He is remembered particularly as a writer of hymns, the best-known being "Onward, Christian Soldiers" and "Now the Day Is Over". He also translated the carol "Gabriel's Message" from the Basque language to the English. His first book of songs, Songs and Ballads of the West, was the first folk song collection published for the mass market (?) b. January 28th 1834.
1941: Mischa Levitzki () Russian-born pianist () b. 1898
1950: Theophrastos Sakellaridis () Greek composer and conductor () b. 1883
1973: Joe Harriott/Joe Arthurlin (44) Jamacian alto saxophonist; initially a bebopper, he is now widely acknowledged as one of the worldwide pioneers of free jazz. He was educated at Kingston's famed Alpha Boys School, which produced a number of prominent Jamaican musicians. He moved to the UK as a working musician in 1951 and lived in the country for the rest of his life.He worked freelance and in the band of trumpeter Pete Pitterson. In 1954, he landed an important gig with drummer Tony Kinsey; the next year he played in saxophonist Ronnie Scott's big band. His first album as a leader was 1959's Southern Horizon. He was big influence in the British Jazz world (sadly lost his battle with cancer) b. July 15th 1928.
1974: Tex Ritter/Woodward Maurice Ritter (68) American country music singer and movie actor popular from the mid-1930s into the 1960s, and the patriarch of the Ritter family in acting, son John and grandson Jason. In 1944, he scored a hit with "I'm Wastin' My Tears on You", which hit No. 1 on the country chart and eleven on the pop chart. "There's a New Moon Over My Shoulder" was a country chart No. 2 and pop chart No. 21. In 1945, he had the No. 1, 2, and 3 songs on Billboard's Most Played Jukebox Folk Records poll, a 1st in the industry. Between 1945 and 1946, he registered seven consecutive top five hits, including a No.1 hit "You Two-Timed Me One Time Too Often", which spent eleven weeks on the charts. In 1948, "Rye Whiskey" and his cover of "The Deck of Cards" both made the top ten and "Pecos Bill" reached No.15. In 1950, "Daddy's Last Letter (Private First Class John H. McCormick)" also became a hit. His last song, "The Americans", recorded in 1973, became a posthumous hit shortly after his death. His motion picture debut was in Song Of The Gringo-1936 for Grand National Pictures. Between 1938 and 1945, he starred in around forty "singing cowboy" movies as well as starring in dozens of other films. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6631 Hollywood Boulevard; he and John Ritter were the first father-and-son pair to be so honored in different categories. In 1980, he was inducted into the Western Performers Hall of Fame at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He is also a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame. (sadly died from a heart attack) b. January 12th 1905.
1977: Errol Garner (55) American pianist and composer, one of the most virtuosic and popular pianists in jazz. He was influenced by Fats Waller and was entirely self-taught. He spelled Art Tatum in the latter's trio in 1945 and subsequently formed his own three-piece group, achieving commercial success with Concert by the Sea in 1958, one of the best-selling albums in jazz. He wrote some 200 songs, including 'Misty', 'Dreamy' and 'Solitaire'. He developed a unique style of piano playing and toured throughout the world from the 1940s through the 1960s. Amazingly he never learnt to read music and remained an "ear player" all his life (?) b. June 15th 1951.
1981: David Lynch (51) American tenor vocalist and an original member of the legendary Platters an influencial doo-wop vocal group which was formed in 1953. Their distinctive sound created by Buck Ram was a bridge between the pre-rock Tin Pan Alley tradition, and the burgeoning new genre. The original group members were David Lynch, Alex Hodge, Cornell Gunther, Joe Jefferson, Gaynel Hodge and Herb Reed. They were the first rock and roll group to have a Top Ten album in America, and had hit singles such as "Only You", "Great Pretender", "Enchanted", "The Magic Touch", "My Prayer", "Twilight Time", "Harbor Lights", "To Each His Own", "If I Didn't Care" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes". David later joined Ram's Platters lineup, with lead vocalist Sonny Turner, Herb Reed, Nate Nelson and Sandra Dawn; they enjoyed a short chart renaissance in 1966-67, with the comeback singles "I Love You 1000 Times", "With This Ring", and the Motown-influenced "Washed Ashore". David along with the Platters was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Hit Parade Hall of Fame in 2009 (sadly died of cancer) b. July 3rd 1929.
1986: Dick James () English music publisher (Northern Songs) (b. 1920)
1987: Peter Lucia (39) American drummer and founder member of Tommy James and Shondells, whose period of greatest success came in the late 1960s. They had two number one singles in the US - "Hanky Panky" in 1966 and "Crimson and Clover" in 1969, and also released five other top ten hits; "I Think We're Alone Now," "Mony Mony," "Crystal Blue Persuasion", "Mirage", and "Sweet Cherry Wine". Peter co-wrote "Crimson and Clover". In 2006, Tommy James & the Shondells were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame (Tragically Peter died very unexpectedly, heart problems) b. February 2nd 1947.
1991: Mort Shuman (54) American singer, pianist and songwriter, after teaming up with Doc Pomus, working in New York City's Brill Building. Their songwriting collaboration saw Doc write the lyrics and Shuman the melody, although occasionally they worked on both. Their compositions would be recorded by artists such as Dion, Andy Williams, Bobby Darin, Fabian, The Drifters, and Elvis Presley, among others. Their most famous songs include "A Teenager in Love", "Turn Me Loose", "This Magic Moment", "Save The Last Dance For Me", "Little Sister", "Can't Get Used to Losing You", "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" and "Viva Las Vegas". In 1965, he moved to Paris, France where he wrote songs for the French rocker Johnny Hallyday. He wrote and sang many songs in French, such as Le Lac Majeur, Allo Papa Tango Charlie, Sha Mi Sha, Un Eté de Porcelaine, Brooklyn by the Sea which became great hits in France. Mort was elected to the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1992 (died from complications due to a liver operation) b. November 12th 1936.
1997: Randy California/Randy Craig Wolfe (45) American guitarist, singer, songwriter and one of the original members of the rock group Spirit. He moved to New York City in the summer of 1966, it was there, at Manny's Guitars, that Randy met Jimi Hendrix. He played in Hendrix's band Jimmy James & the Blue Flames that summer. The stage name "Randy California" was given to him by Hendrix to distinguish him from another Randy in the band, who Hendrix dubbed "Randy Texas". Together with his step father Ed Cassidy, songwriter/front-man Jay Ferguson, bassist Mark Andes, with whom Randy and Ed initially had formed a band called the Red Roosters, and keyboardist John Locke, he founded the band Spirit, originally named Spirits Rebellious, after Kahlil Gibran's poem in 1967 (Randy tragically drowned while rescuing his 12 year old son when he was sucked into a riptide in the surf off Hawaii) b. February 20th 1951.
1999: Rolf Liebermann () Swiss composer (b. 1910)
2000: Nathaniel Adderley (68) American jazz cornetist who played in the hard bop and soul jazz genres. Born in Tampa, Florida, Nat and his brother saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley played with Ray Charles in the early 1940s in Tallahassee. In the 1950s he worked with his brother's original group, with Lionel Hampton, and with J. J. Johnson, then in 1959 joined his brother's new quintet and stayed with it until Cannonball's death in 1975. He composed "Work Song," "Jive Samba," and "The Old Country" for this group. After his brother's death he led his own groups, recording extensively, releasing around 38 albums. During this period he worked with, among others, Ron Carter, Sonny Fortune, Johnny Griffin, Antonio Hart and Vincent Herring. He also helped in the founding and development of the annual Child of the Sun Jazz Festival, held annually at Florida Southern College in Lakeland (?) b. November 25th 1931.
2002: Armi Aavikko (43) Finnish singer; best known for her duets with Ilkka Lipsanen aka Danny. She was chosen as Miss Finland in 1977 and achieved some posthumous fame in 2006 when an old music video "I Wanna Love You Tender" featuring herself and Danny(pneumonia, brought on by chronic alcoholism) b. September 1st 1958.
2002: Zachary Sebastian Rex James "Zac" Foley (31) UK bassist with EMF; thrown out of school at 16 for having long hair, he gravitated towards the local indie music scene. He played for the IUCs before joining EMF on its formation in 1989. After finding a Casio sampler and sequencer in a local charity shop, they added a light techno element to their rock-orientated sound, and within a year Unbelievable had conquered the charts, reaching number 3 in the UK charts and was a number one hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and their debut album, Schubert Dip, went to number 3 in the UK Albums Chart. They made 2 more albums, 92's "Stigma" and 95's "Cha Cha Cha" . The band split after Zak's death (died due to an overdose of heroin, cocaine, ecstasy, barbiturates and alcohol). b. December 9th 1970.
2003: Eric Jupp (80) British-born musician, composer, arranger and conductor who gained wide popularity in Australia after settling there in the 1960s, hosting a long-running light music TV show and composing for film and TV. He is best remembered for his theme music to the TV series Skippy the Bush Kangaroo. Born in Brighton he began to study piano at seven. He left school and started his musical career at fourteen, playing in nightclubs. He joined the R.A.F.at the outbreak of WW II, after which, he went to London, where he soon became a prominent member of several leading big bands, working as a pianist, composer and arranger. Eric worked as an arranger for both of Britain's top bandleaders of the period, Stanley Black and Ted Heath. As pianist and arranger Eric was also a long-serving member of the Oscar Rabin Band. In 1951 he formed his own orchestra at the request of the BBC and began making regular radio broadcasts and also appeared in the Hammer Films TV series Bands On Parade. He began writing music for films in Britain, beginning with the crime drama The Secret Place in 1957. In 1961 he launched his popular and long-running weekly ABC-TV series The Magic of Music, which was seen in 29 countries and ran from 1961 to 1974. After relocating to Australia in the early 60s he soon made a name for himself there as a leading composer for film and TV. Among many projects he became music director for the 1971 Fauna Productions adventure series Barrier Reef. He composed music for the TV series Bailey's Bird-1977 and wrote the score for Michael Pate's 1979 film version of Colleen McCullough's first novel, Tim, starring the then unknown Mel Gibson (sadly died after battling illness for several months) b. January 7th 1922.
2006: Bill DeArango (84) American jazz guitarist, he played in Dixieland jazz bands while attending Ohio State University. After serving in the Army from 1942-44, he moved to New York City, where he played with Don Byas, Ben Webster, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Sarah Vaughan, Slam Stewart, Ike Quebec, Ray Nance, and Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis. He recorded under his own name for the first time in 1945, and co-led a band with Terry Gibbs shortly thereafter. Bill left New York to return to Cleveland in 1947, where he essentially disappeared from the music world. He did an album with pianist John Williams in 1954 for EmArcy, but remained strictly a local musician for more than 20 years, in addition to running a record store. Late in the 1960s he managed the rock band Henry Tree, and held a regular gig in the 1970s at the Smiling Dog Saloon in Cleveland with Ernie Krivda and Skip Hadden. In 1978 he recorded with Barry Altschul, and with Kenny Werner in 1981; he won significant renown for his 1993 collaboration with Joe Lovano, Anything Went. After the release of this record, DeArango played locally but had primarily gone into retirement (He entered a nursing home in 1999 suffering dementia until his death seven years later) b. September 20th 1921.
2006: Michael Scott Smith (59) American jazz drummer and percussionist, he grew up in Meadville, Pennsylvania where his father exposed him to jazz at an early age. At age 8, he began taking drum lessons from local jazz drummer, Cootie Harris. In 1968, he joined his friend, bassist Terry Plumeri in the group, Love, Cry, Want, a free-improvisation group with jazz, blues, and rock influences. He eventually recorded with Plumeri on two albums, He Who Lives In Many Places and Water Garden in 1978, formerly titled Ongoing. In 2007, these two albums were re-issued on CD by GMMC records. Michael based himself in the Washington D.C., Baltimore area for most of his 40-year career, He played with many jazz greats including, but not limited to Dave Liebman, Herbie Hancock, John Abercrombie, Randy Brecker, Tommy Flanagan, Billy Eckstein, Astrud Gilberto, Freddie Hubbard, Herb Ellis, and Milt Jackson. (?) b. January 30th 1946.
2008: Ben Marlin (31) American bassist with the brutal death metal band Disgorge. Ben was playing bass as a member of the death metal band Strangulation, when in 1998 he was asked to join, Disgorge who were then just signing with Unique Leader Records. Shortly after they recorded and released their second album, "She Lay Gutted", in November 1999. They toured worldwide in Europe, North America and South America. Disgorge recorded their third album "Consume the Forsaken" in 2002 and "Parallels Of Infinite Torture" in 2005 touring in Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Mexico and Indonesia to promote their new release. (Ben sadly died after battling cancer for more than a year and a half) b. March 19th 1976.
2011: Robert Trumble (91) Australian writer, musician and son of international cricketer Hugh Trumble; Robert dedicated his first book, The Golden Age of Cricket, to his father. His musical career was noted by the Australian media and in 2003 he was awarded the Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for reviving the work of Vincent d'Indy. He had previously spent thirty years as a concert manager for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He was also commissioned to write for the British Music Society in 2004, and also published a biography of d'Indy, Vincent d'Indy: His Greatness and His Integrity in 1994 and The Compositions of Vincent d'Indy in 2000 (?) b. April 15th 1919.
2012: Ian Bargh (76) British-Canadian jazz pianist and composer, he emigrated to Toronto in 1957. Through the 60s & 70s he played with the likes of Buddy Tate, Buck Clayton, Bobby Hackett, Vic Dickenson, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Ernestine Anderson, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Edmund Hall, Doc Cheatham, and Tyree Glenn. In the 80s, he began an 8 year association with Jim Galloway's “Toronto Alive” project at the Sheraton Ctre. Live collaborations at the centre included those with, Zoot Sims, Al Cohn, Lee Konitz, Peter Appleyard, Frank Wright, Scott Hamilton, Rob McConnell, Guido Basso, Ed Bickert, Dizzy Reece, and Warren Vache, among others. During this period, he also toured in jazz festivals across the world in an all-star group again led by Galloway. Towards the end of this period, he began a 15-year association with the Toronto Jazz Festival, leading the rhythm section of the the host hotel's house band. It was at this venue that he performed with scores of musicians, including, Jake Hanna, Plas Johnson, Spanky Davis, Harold Ashby, both Warren and Allan Vache, Fraser MacPherson, Joe Temperley, Randy Sandke and George Masso (sadly Ian died of lung cancer) b. January 8th 1935.
2012: Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt (63) American rock guitarist born in Florida, After playing with several local bands in 1969, he, along with bassist Richard Price and drummer Ramone Sotolongo, formed a "power trio" The Load performing mostly original, psychedelic blues-rock and landed a house gig in Gainesville, at a club called Dubs. He was also guitarist, breifly for The Second Coming before joining Iron Butterfly. In 1970, Iron Butterfly released an album that included Larry and Mike Pinera, titled Metamorphosis, which was officially credited to "Iron Butterfly With Pinera & Rhino. In 1970 Larry and Iron Butterfly bassist Lee Dorman formed Captain Beyond, recruiting former Johnny Winter/Rick Derringer drummer Bobby Caldwell >>>READ MORE<<< (Larry sadly died after battling cancer and sclerosis of the liver) b. July 7th 1948.

January 3rd.
1967: Mary Garden (92) Scottish soprano described as "the Sarah Bernhardt of opera"; she spent the latter part of her childhood and youth in America and eventually became a citizen, she also lived in France for many years and eventually retired to Scotland. In 1907, Oscar Hammerstein convinced her to join the Manhattan Opera House in New York where she became an immediate success. By 1910 she was a household name in America and appeared in operas in several major American cities; including performing with the Boston Opera Company and the Philadelphia Opera Company. Between 1910-1932 Mary worked in several opera houses in Chicago and joined the Chicago Opera Association in 1915, ultimately becoming the company's director in 1921. Although director for only one year, she was notably responsible for staging the world premiere of Sergei Prokofiev's The Love for Three Oranges before the company went bankrupt in 1922. Shortly thereafter she became the director of the Chicago Civic Opera where she commissioned the opera Camille by 28 year old composer Hamilton Forrest. She sang roles at the Civic Opera until 1931, notably in several US and world premieres. Also Mary appeared in two silent films made by Samuel Goldwyn. After retiring from the opera stage in 1934, Mary worked as a talent scout for MGM (sadly passed with dementia) b. February 20th 1874.
1980: Amos Milburn (52) American blues & boogie pianist, singer born in Houston. He was one of the greatest pioneers in the history of R&B pounding out some of the most hellacious boogies of the postwar era, usually recording in Los Angeles for Aladdin Records, specializing in good-natured upbeat romps about booze and its effects that proved massive hits during the immediate pre-rock era. "Hold Me Baby" and "Chicken Shack Boogie" landed numbers eight and nine on Billboard's survey of 1949's R&B Bestsellers. Among his best known songs was "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer". In 1950 his "Bad, Bad, Whiskey" reached the top of the R&B charts and began a string of drinking songs. Amos's final recording was on an album by Johnny Otis. This was in 1972 after he had been incapacitated by a stroke, so much so that Otis had to play the left-hand piano parts for his old friend. (His second stroke led to the amputation of a leg because of circulatory problems. He sadly died shortly after a third stroke) b. April 1st 1927.
1982: Tommy Bryant (51) American jazz double-bassist, grew up in a musical family in Philadelphia; his mother was a choir director, his brother Ray Bryant is a pianist, and another brother, Len Bryant, is a vocalist and drummer. He began playing bass at age twelve and played in many local outfits, including Billy Krechmer's. In the late 1940s he joined Elmer Snowden's band, staying there until 1952, when he took a tour of duty during the Korean War. In 1956 he returned and formed his own trio, though he is better known for his work with musicians such as Jo Jones, Charlie Shavers, Roy Eldridge Dizzy Gillespie, Barney Wilen, Benny Golson, Big Joe Turner and Coleman Hawkins. In the last ten years of his life he played in the follow-up band to The Ink Spots. Tommy also recorded with Mahalia Jackson under the name Tom Bryant (?) b. May 21st 1930.
1989: Eddie Heywood Jr (73) American jazz pianist, born in Georgia, he became very popular in the 1940s. He played with several popular jazz musicians such as Wayman Carver in 1932, Clarence Love from 1934 to 1937 and Benny Carter from 1939 to 1940 after which moving to New York. After starting his own band, he occasionally played back-up for Billie Holiday in 1941. In 1943, he put together the first sextet, including Doc Cheatham and Vic Dickenson. After their version of "Begin the Beguine" became a hit in 1944, they had three successful years. Between 1947 to 1950, he was stricken with a partial paralysis of his hands and could not play at all. In the 1950s, Eddie wrote and recorded "Land of Dreams" and "Soft Summer Breeze" and is probably best known for his 1956 recording of "Canadian Sunset," all of which he recorded with Hugo Winterhalter and his orchestra. After a second partial paralysis in the 1960s, Heywood made another comeback and continued his career in the 1980s. Eddie has a "Star" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (?) b. December 4th 1915.
1990: Arthur Gold (72) American pianist; he met fellow pianist Robert Fizdale during their student years at Juilliard. They formed a lifelong gay partnership based around their interests of music and formed one of the most important Piano duos of the 20th century. Some say that Gold and Fizdale revolutionized the art of performing as a 2-piano duo, agree or not, they were commissioned and premièred many of the most important works for this ensemble in the second half of the 20th century, including works by John Cage, Paul Bowles, Virgil Thomson, Ned Rorem and many other US composers. They released recordings featuring works by Les Six, Vittorio Rieti, and many other composers, as well as a series of Concerto recordings with Leonard Bernstein and The New York Philharmonic, including the Poulenc Concerto for Two Pianos, The Mozart Two Piano Concerto and Saint-Saëns's "Carnival of the Animals" (?) b. February 6th 1917.
2002: Juan García Esquivel (83) Mexican band leader, pianist, and film score composer, born in Tampico. He is recognized today as one of the foremost exponents of a sophisticated style of largely instrumental music that combines elements of lounge music and jazz with Latin flavors. He is called by many "The King of Space Age Pop" and "The Busby Berkley of Cocktail Music" and is considered one of the foremost exponents of a style of late 1950s-early 1960s quirky instrumental pop that became known as "Space Age Bachelor Pad Music". He arranged many traditional Mexican songs like "Bésame Mucho", "La Bamba", "El Manisero" and "La Bikina"; also Brazilian songs like "Aquarela do Brasil"/"Brazil", "Surfboard" and "Agua de Beber", and composed spicy lounge-like novelties such as "Mini Skirt", "Yeyo", "Latin-Esque", "Mucha Muchacha" and "Whatchamacallit". He was commissioned to compose the music of a Mexican children's TV show Odisea Burbujas. Juan's concerts featured elaborate light shows years before effects like that became popular in live music. He performed in Las Vegas on several occasions, often opening for Frank Sinatra (?) b. January 20th 1918.
2007: Janos Furst (71) Hungarian orchestral conductor, he originally studied the violin at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in his native Budapest. After the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary, he continued studies at the conservatory in Brussels. He attended the Conservatoire de Paris and there won a Premier Prix. He took a job in 1958 with the Radio Éireann Symphony Orchestra, and developed his career as an orchestra leader. In 1963, he founded the Irish Chamber Orchestra, and became concertmaster of the Ulster Orchestra in 1966. In the 70s, 80s and 90s he held positions as Chief Conductor and-or Music Director, and recorded with orchestras in Malmö, Aalborg, Winterthur, Dublin, the Opéra de Marseille and was Chief Guest Conductor of the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. He worked and recorded with many others including the Bamberg Symphony Orchestra (sadly Janos died of cancer in Paris) b. August 8th 1935
2010: Gustavo Becerra-Schmidt (84) Chilean composer, a prolific composer in Chile before he moved to Germany to teach at Oldenburg University, a job he held since 1974. His catalogue includes 100s of compositions that goes from the most traditional to the most avant-garde, from popular songs to large scale cantatas, symphonies and oratorios. Highlights are his cantatas La Araucana and Lord Cochrane de Chile, the Macchu Picchu oratorio on texts by Neruda, the Concerto for Flute & Strings, and a most recent Harp Concerto from 2006, not forgetting the electroacoustic works. Gustavo also was an important teacher, some of his pupils were or are among the most important composers of Chile, these include Luis Advis, Sergio Ortega, Fernando García, and Cirilo Vila (lung cancer) b. August 26th 1925.
2011: Geraldo Flach (65) Brazilian pianist, composer, and considered one of the leading names in instrumental music in southern Brazil. He collaborated with the likes of Nana Caymmi, Ivan Lins, Renato Borghetti and Yamandu Costa, and had songs recorded by Elis Regina, and Emilio Santiago Taiguara, among others. His work, which mixes folk roots with urban music filtered into the language of jazz, was awarded in Brazil and abroad (cancer) b. ????
2011: Suchitra Mitra (86) Indian singer, composer and a well respected exponent of Rabindra Sangeet or the songs of Bengal's poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore. As an academic she remained a Professor and the Head of 'Rabindra Sangeet Department' at the Rabindra Bharati University for many years. She has also done playback singing and acted in a Bengali films as well, and for many years remained associated with IPTA. Some of her notable awards include: Tagore Hymn Prize in 1945 from London Tagore Hymn Society, Padma Shri in 1973 from the Government of India, Sangeet Natak Academy Award in 1986 from the Government of India, HMV Golden Disc Award, Shiromoni Puraskar from Asian Paints, Desikottama from Visva-Bharati, Allauddin Puraskar from the Government of West Bengal, among numerous others (cardiac arrest) b. September 19th 1924.
2012: Enrique de Melchor/Enrique Jiménez Ramírez (61) Spanish flamenco guitarist, born near Seville, but lived in Madrid most of his life. Considered the equal of Paco de Lucia and Manolo SanLucar, he has worked with the soulful greats among flamenco singers, including Antonio Mairena, Camarón de La Isla, La Perla de Cádiz, Pansequito, Rocío Jurado, Chiquetete, El Lebrijano, El Fary, María Jiménez and José Menese among others. As a soloist, he appears at venues such as Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Carnegie Hall in New York, along with the Madrid’s Teatro Real de Madrid and Barcelona’s Liceo. He also accompanied Spanish opera singers Montserrat Caballé and José Carreras (sadly Enrique died fighting cancer) b. July 15th 1950.
2012: Robert 'Bob' Weston (64) British musician born in Plymouth, Devon, best known for his brief role as guitarist and songwriter with the rock band Fleetwood Mac in late 1972-74. He recorded the Penguin album in January 1973 as a lead guitarist alongside Bob Welch, but stood out on his slide guitar, especially on "Remember Me", and his accomplished harmonica and banjo playing. He also sang with Christine McVie on the song "Did You Ever Love Me", and wrote the instrumental, "Caught in the Rain". Bob went on to record with Murray Head, then briefly join, along with bassist Nick South and drummer Ian Wallace, Steve Marriott's newly formed All-Stars Band. When Marriott opted to play lead guitar himself, Bob went on to do a few solo albums. In January 2008, he started working on new recordings, recorded at Markant Studios in the Netherlands and were released later in the year (sadly Bob was found dead flat in his flat at Brent Cross, London) b. November 1st 1947.

January 4th.
1969: Paul Laurence Dunbar Chambers Jr. (33) American musician born in Pittsburgh, he was one of the most influential jazz bassists of the 20th century. A prominent figure in many rhythm sections during the 50s and 60s, his importance in the development of jazz bass can be measured not only by the length and breadth of his work in this short period but also his impeccable time, intonation, and virtuosic improvisations. He was in great demand as a session musician recording with dozens of greats, including such landmarks as Thelonious Monk's Brilliant Corners, Coltrane's Giant Steps, and Oliver Nelson's The Blues and the Abstract Truth. Many musicians wrote songs dedicated to Paul. Red Garland, wrote the tune "The P.C. Blues", and Coltrane's song "Mr. P.C.", Tommy Flanagan wrote "Big Paul", which was performed on the John Coltrane and Kenny Burrell Prestige 1958 LP. Max Roach wrote a drum solo called "Five For Paul", on his 1977 "impossible to find" drum solo LP recorded in Japan, and Sonny Rollins wrote "Paul's Pal" for him (sadly died prematurely of tuberculosis) b. April 22nd 1935.
1970: Neil Boland (?) English chauffeur, bodyguard and friend of The Who's drummer, Keith Moon. (Keith accidently ran over Neil as he was escaping from a Gang of skinheads after a fight broke out at a pub in Hatfield, England. Keith had never passed his driving test and never got over it) b. ????
1981: Ruth Lowe (66) Canadian songwriter, pianist born in Toronto; in 1936, she became a member of the All Girl band, The Melodears. She went on to become a successful songwriter, her songs included "I'll Never Smile Again", written after her husband died. The song was later covered by many artists, including Frank Sinatra, his first great hit while with Dorsey; and The Ink Spots. Also she composed the Frank Sinatra hit "Put Your Dreams Away", Frank's 'signature' song, which was played at his funeral. In 1982, the year after she died, Ruth was inducted into the American Music Hall of Fame with an honorary Grammy Award (?) b. August 12th 1914.
1985: Lovro von Matacic (85) Croatian conductor and composer born in Sušak. He was a member of the Vienna Boys' Choir, then studied at the Vienna Hochschule für Musik. There he studied piano, organ, composition, and conducting. He he went on to be especially praised for his control over the immense formal structures of Bruckner's symphonies and his masterly control of phrasing. However, he also included in his favorite repertory music of the whole Romantic era and the music of Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn. His reputation with the most serious music of the era did not preclude him from having a light touch where recalled; his recording of Léhar's The Merry Widow, with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, is particularly prized (?) b. February 14th 1899.
1986: Phil Lynott (36) Irish singer, bassist, songwriter, composer, founder member of Thin Lizzy; he released two solo albums and also formed and fronted the band Grand Slam. Born in West Bromwich, England, but when Phil was four years old, he went to live with his grandmother Sarah in Crumlin, Dublin, while his mother stayed in Manchester. In the mid 1960s, he began singing in his first band, the Black Eagles. Around this time, he befriended Brian Downey, who was later persuaded to join the band. Before long the Black Eagles broke up and Phil joined 'Kama Sutra' before settling into a short stint singing in (Irish) Skid Row. In 1969, Phil and Brian Downey formed Thin Lizzy with guitarist Eric Bell and keyboard player Eric Wrixon. Phil was the main songwriter for Thin Lizzy, as well as the lead singer and bassist. Their first top ten hit was in 1973, with a rock version of the traditional Irish song "Whiskey in the Jar". In 1980, though Thin Lizzy were still enjoying considerable success, Phil launched a solo career with the album, Solo in Soho. In 1984, he formed a new band, Grand Slam, with Doish Nagle, Laurence Archer, Robbie Brennan, and Mark Stanway. His last single, "Nineteen", was released a few weeks before his death (heart failure and pneumonia after being in a coma for eight days following a drug overdose) b. August 20th 1949.
1988: Lily Laskine (94) French harpist, she was one of the most prominent harpists of the twentieth century. She was a frequent performing partner of several distinguished French flautists, including Marcel Moyse and Jean-Pierre Rampal. Laskine also served as professor of harp at the Conservatoire de Paris from 1948 to 1958. She was awarded the Legion of Honour in 1958 (?) b. August 31st 1893.
1991: Leo Wright (57) A first-rate bop-oriented alto saxophonist, clarinetist, he was also one of the finest flutists jazz, born in Wichita Falls, Texas. In the late 1950s he played with Charles Mingus, Kenny Burrell, Johnny Coles, Blue Mitchell and Dizzy Gillespie who in rhe 1960s he appeared at several major international festivals and made records including A Musical Safari. From the end of the 60s he lived in Europe where he played with various bands. In the mid-80s he performed and record with Nat Adderley, Kenny Drew, and his vocalist wife Elly, and led his own groups (?) b. December 14th 1933.
1994: Rahul Dev Burman (54) Indian composer and actor born in Calcutta; he was famous for his unique, grunting bass singing style. He sang playback in 18 movies which he composed and he also acted in the film Bhoot Bungla '65 and Pyar Ka Mausam '67. Out of his 331 released movies 292 were in Hindi, 31 in Bangla, 3 in Telugu, 2 each in Tamil & Oriya and 1 in Marathi. He also composed for 5 TV Serials in Hindi and Marathi and scored a large number of non-film songs in Bangla aka Pooja songs or modern songs, which are available in different albums. (?) b. June 27th 1939.
1995: Eduardo Mata (52) Mexican conductor and composer; born in Mexico City, he studied guitar privately for 3 years before attending the National Conservatory of Music. He composed several works in the 50s and 60s, including 3 symphonies, chamber works, sonatas, and works for ballet. His 3rd symphony and some chamber works have been recorded. In 1965 he was appointed head of the Music Department of the National Autonomous University of Mexico and conductor of the Guadalajara Orchestra. From '77 to '93 he was music director of the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor of several famous orchestras in the US, Europe and Latin America. He recorded over fifty albums, most of them with the UNAM Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and London Symphony Orchestra (Eduardo and a passenger were en route from Cuernavaca, Morelos, to Dallas, Texas; he was piloting his own Piper Aerostar. One engine failed shortly after takeoff, tragically the plane crashed during an emergency landing attempt, killing them both)b. September 5th 1942.
1996: Ramón Vinay (84) Chilean operatic tenor born in Chillán, Chile, probably best remembered for his appearances in the title role of Giuseppe Verdi's tragic opera Otello. His overall tenor repertoire embraced heavy Wagnerian roles, he sang at the Bayreuth Festival in 1952-57, as well as Canio in Leoncavallo's Pagliacci, Don José in Bizet's Carmen and Samson in Saint-Saëns's Samson et Dalila. Apart from Iago, the baritone parts which he performed included Telramund, Bartolo, Falstaff and Scarpia (died in Mexico) b. August 31st 1911. NOTE:some sources give YOB 1912
1998: John Gary (66) American pop vocalist; considered by many to be one of the best crooners due to his extaordinary breath control and tonal quality of his voice. He had an exceptionally wide range of 3 octaves. He sang in movies, on Broadway, had his own TV show, and appeared at Carnegie Hall, with numerous symphonies. He appeared 30 times as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jack Paar, Steve Allen and Johnny Carson. He traveled across the U.S. and Canada with around 40 concerts per year. For six years he gave Community concerts in over 400 cities and towns. John recorded 23 albums for RCA Victor Records. His 1967 single "Cold", r was his most successful, topping the billboard easy listening chart for two weeks(?) b. November 29th 1932.
2001: Les Brown (88) American big band leader and composer, best known for his nearly seven decades of work with his group Les Brown and His Band of Renown from 1938 to 2001. Before which he graduated from New York Military Academy in 1932, Les attended college at Duke University from 1932-1936. There he led the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils, performing regularly on campus and up and down the east coast. The first feature length film that Les and the band appeared in was the war-time movie "Seven Days Leave". "Rock-A-Billy Baby", in 1957, was their second movie and in 1963, they appeared in Jerry Lewis' comedy The Nutty Professor. Les and his band were also the house band for the Steve Allen show from 1959-1961 and the Dean Martin Variety Show from 1963-1972. They performed with virtually every major performer of their time, including Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat "King" Cole (?) b. March 14th 1912.
2003: Yfrah Neaman OBE (79) Lebonese violinist and an eminent pedagogue born in Sidon; he studied in Paris and then settled in London where he continued his studies with Carl Flesch and Max Rostal. Yfrah gave the first performances in Britain of the violin concertos of Walter Piston in 1952 and Roberto Gerhard in 1955. He taught at the Guildhall School of Music and was artistic director of the Carl Flesch Competition. Among his students were Krzysztof Smietana, David Takeno, Wolfgang David, Sung-Sic Yang, Gennady Filimonov, Mihai Craioveanu, and Radoslaw Szulc. Yfrah was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1983 (?) b. February 13th 1923.
2004: Jake Hess (76) American 4 time Grammy Award-winning gospel singer and founder of The Imperials. He began his career at the age of 16, when he joined the John Daniel Quartet, making his recorded debut on "Just a Prayer Away". After which, he sang with three of his brothers as the Hess Brothers Quartet. He also sang with the Sunny South Quartet and their rival, the Melody Masters Quartet. From 1948 until 1963 Jake sang lead with the Statesmen Quartet. Upon leaving the Statesmen Quartet, Jake formed the Imperials, they went on to become pioneers in Contemporary Christian Music, and would eventually be inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Elvis Presley had long harbored a love for gospel and Jake Hess in particular. The group recorded with Elvis in sessions from May 1966 to June 1971. This included his last two Grammy Award-winning albums: How Great Thou Art, featuring a duet with Jake on the classic Statesmen song "If The Lord Wasn’t Walking By My Side" and He Touched Me, which used many of the songs that the Imperials had recorded on their own albums. (sadly died from a heart attack) b. December 24th 1927.
2008: Mort Garson (83) Canadian electronic musician born in Saint John, New Brunswick, and was an best known for his albums that predominantly feature Moog synthesizers. He went on to work in television and film, scoring a wide variety of music for many different movies and TV shows, from Beware! The Blob! to Kentucky Fried Movie to National Geographic specials. Closely associated with Heatter-Quigley Productions, he created the theme songs and music cues for the TV game shows such as "Amateur's Guide to Love", "Gambit", "Runaround", "Baffle", "The Magnificent Marble Machine", and "Battlestars". composed the score for the 1983 West End musical Marilyn! The Musical (?) b. July 20th 1924
2008: Keith Baxter (36) British drummer; in 1990, he was a founder member of folk metal pioneers Skyclad, releasing their debut album 'The Wayward Sons of Mother Earth' in 1991. After a tour with Overkill they recorded their follow-up album 'A Burnt Offering for the Bone Idol' in 1992. He recorded 3 more albums with them before leaving in 1995 to move to London where he joined '3CR'/'3 Colours Red'. Their 1997 debut album "Pure" was follFollowing the band split in 1999 he formed the band Elevation with former bandmate, Pete Vuckovic. The following year he moved back to his hometown of Lancaster and briefly played with the Nth.Irish band, Therapy in 2002. Following 3 Colours Red's reformation and second split, Kieth played with Lancaster-based Baby Judas (sadly died from gastro-intestinal hemorrhage in hospital surrounded by family and friends) b. February 19th 1971.
2010: Sandro de América/Roberto Sánchez (64) Argentinian singer, guitarist and actor born in Buenos Aires, learning and playing Romani guitar as a child. In the 1960s he started the group Sandro & los de Fuego, which gained popularity on the TV show Sábados Circulares and had hits with songs like Trigal, Tengo, ¿A esto le llamas amor?, Eres el demonio disfrazado, Porque yo te amo and Rosa, Rosa. He was the first Latino singer to fill Madison Square Garden doing so five times during the 1970s. He was also the first singer to do a television concert via satellite, the concert was broadcast from Madison Square Garden in April 1970. This concert marked the debut of Latino music for a world audience. Sandro also appeared in various films, among others: Quiero Llenarme de Ti ("I Want to fill myself with you") and telenovelas, including Fue sin Querer/"It wasn't on purpose" (died from complications after having heart and lung transplant surgery) b. August 19th 1945.
2010: Tony Clarke (68) British musician and record producer born in Coventry started his musical career playing bass guitar in skiffle bands in the mid 1950s, and in rock bands into the early 1960s. At this time he also worked as a session musician for Decca Records, but in 1964 he transferred to the production department. He also worked as a songwriter; his tune "Our Song" was recorded by Malcolm Roberts and Jack Jones. His first production was with Pinkerton's Colours No.8 hit "Mirror, Mirror", soon followed by The Equals's No.1 hit "Baby Come Back" as well as writing "The Guy Who Made Her A Star" for the band. In 1966 he was given The Moody Blues, and produced what became their 1967 symphonic rock album "Days of Future Passed" which included the now classic track, "Nights in White Satin", it was also the first album to feature Justin Hayward and John Lodge. Tony produced The Four Tops for a UK-only release in 1972, which was comprised entirely of songs written by the Moody Blues. He stayed with Moody Blues till their 1978 comeback album, Octave, earning the name "the Sixth Moody" from friends and fans. He went on to produce a number of film soundtracks and produced the likes of the Irish folk rock outfit Clannad, Yes man Rick Wakeman, and Nicky Hopkins, among others () b. ??.??.1941.
2011: Mick Karn/Andonis Michaelides (52) Cypriot-born British bass guitarist, saxophonist and keyboardist born in Nicosia; in 1961, his family emigrated to London, England, where he was educated at Catford Boys' School. He and his friends formed the New Wave group, Japan in 1974 and achieved success in the late '70s and '80s, when they were often associated with the burgeoning New Romantic fashion movement. They debuted with their '78 album Adolescent Sex, followed up with Obscure Alternatives, both albums acheiving success outside the UK . Their next 5 albums all charted in the UK, the last being Rain Tree Crow in 1991, when they briefly reformed for this one-off project, and their final album. After Japan broke up, he recorded a solo album before forming Dalis Car with Peter Murphy of the gothic post-punk group Bauhaus, who recorded one album in 1984. In the 90s he worked with artist David Torn and a number of Japanese musicians, and formed the multinational New Wave band, NiNa. Since then Mick has worked as a solo artist and as a sculptor and photographer. He has also played on recordings by other artists, contributing bass guitar and saxophone to Gary Numan's Dance album, and played with Kate Bush and Joan Armatrading (sadly died from cancer) b. July 24th 1958.
2011: Tavo Kupinski (36) Argentine left-hander guitarist and founding member of the rock band Los Piojos formed in 1988. In 1991, they headed to Europe to participate in an anti-racist music festival in France, playing with groups from Mali, Burkina Faso, Cuba, and Spain. He recorded eleven albums with the band, but in 2009, when the internal crisis started he moved on as reinforcement of Las Pelotas band; also along with Paul Guerra, Sebastián Cardero and Changuito Gómez Farías, he formed the rock band Revealados (tragically Tavo died along with his wife in a car crash) b. January 18th 1974
2011: Gerry Rafferty (63) Scottish singer-songwriter and guitarist born in Paisley, near Glasgow best known for his hits "Right Down the Line" and "Baker Street". In 1963 he left St Mirin's Academy and had several jobs while playing in a local group, the Mavericks. In 1966 Gerry and his old school friend Joe Egan released a single, "Benjamin Day"/"There's Nobody Here", as members of The Fifth Column. He then joined Billy Connolly in a folk band The Humblebums, recording 2 albums with Billy, 'The New Humblebums' and 'Open Up the Door'. It was Gerry who urged Connolly to go it alone as a comic, after which Gerry recorded a first solo album, 'Can I Have My Money Back'. In 1972, Gerry and Joe Egan >>> READ MORE <<< (Gerry has sadly died after suffering a long time with chronic liver and kidney illnesses) b. April 16th 1947.
2011: Grady Chapman (81) American doo-wop singer; born in Greenville, South Carolina, he joined The Robins in 1952, singing alongside Bobby Nunn, Billy Richards, Roy Richards, Ty Terrell, and later Carl Gardner. During that time, the Robins recorded for RCA, and later Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller's LA based "Spark" label. In 1958, he wrote "Sweet Pea" for Bob and Earl. Grady would later become a member of one of the the Coasters' many spin-off groups, The Coasters Mark II, which included Bobby Nunn, Bobby Sheen, and Billy Richards, Jr. In 1977, along with Billy Guy and Jerome Evans, he sang on "Paid The Price" on Michelle Phillips' album Victim Of Romance. He would also substitute for Carl Gardner a few times in the 1990s and 2000s with The Coasters. He still performed as Grady Chapman & The Robins, until his death (heart failure) b. October 1st 1929.
2011: Jeff Jacobs (41) American trumpeter and keyboardist, and a member of the San Francisco spaghetti-Western-jazz ensemble The Drift. Over the years they have toured in Europe, Japan, Canada, and the United States and has produced multiple recordings (sadly died after a battle with cancer) b.????
2012: Kerry McGregor (37) Scottish singer-songwriter and actress born in West Lothian and began her career performing with bands including Nexus and QFX. In 1997, she came second in the The Great British Song Contest, the UK selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, with the song "Yodel in the Canyon of Love". She appeared in a number of stage and television shows including the Channel 4 comedy The Book Group playing Kenny's love-interest Carol Ann, and the BBC1 Children's drama series Grange Hill. In 2006, Kerry was a finalist in the third UK series of TV talent show The X Factor, but was eliminated in the third week of the live shows along with Dionne Mitchell. In 2010, she supported Scottish singer-songwriter Jay Brown, and was working with producer and musician Calais Brown at the time of her death (sadly Kerry died while fighting cancer) b. 1974.

January 5th.
1946: Katherine "Kitty" Cheatham (82) American singer, diseuse and actress, born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. She began her career in music at age 14 by performing at First Presbyterian Church in Nashville. She later went on to study in New York, Paris, and Berlin. Her professional stage debut was made in London, England in 1904, where she performed renditions of African-American folk songs. She is credited with having helped preserve these traditional songs and bring them to European audiences (?) b. 1864.
1956: Mistinguett/Jeanne Bourgeois (80) French vaudeville performer born in Enghien-les-Bains, Val-d'Oise, Île-de-France. She began as a flower seller in a restaurant in her home town, singing popular ballads as she sold her flowers. Jeanne made her debut as Mistinguett at the Casino de Paris in 1895, and also appeared in shows as the Folies Bergère, Moulin Rouge, and Eldorado. Her risqué routines captivated Paris and she went on to become the most popular French entertainers of her time and the highest paid female entertainer in the world. In 1919 her legs were insured for the then astounding amount of 500,000 francs. She first recorded her signature song 'Mon Homme' in 1916. During a tour of the America, she was asked by Time magazine to explain her popularity. Her answer was: "It is a kind of magnetism. I say 'Come closer' and draw them to me." (?) b. April 5th 1875.
1970: Robert Gerhard (73) Catalan Spanish composer, musical scholar and writer. He spent several years with Schoenberg in Vienna and Berlin. Returning to Barcelona in 1928, he devoted his energies to new music through concerts and journalism, in conjunction with the flourishing literary and artistic avant-garde of Cataloni. He was forced to flee to France in 1939 and later that year settled in Cambridge, England. As well as his many works, he was perhaps the first important composer of electronic music in Britain; his music for the 1955 Stratford-on-Avon King Lear – one of many such commissions for the Royal Shakespeare Company - was the first electronic score for the British stage (sadly died of a heart disease) b. September 25th 1896.
1974: Lev Oborin (66) Russian pianist; in 1921, he was accepted into Moscow Conservatory as a student of piano and composition. He completed his piano studies in 1926 and in 1927 he was the winner of the first International Chopin Piano Competition. During the years 1941 to 1963, Lev played in a piano trio with David Oistrakh and the cellist Sviatoslav Knushevitsky, achieving international fame (?) b. September 11th 1907.
1976: Mal Evans (40) English roadie; best known as the road manager, assistant, and a friend of The Beatles: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. In the early 1960s, Evans was employed as a telephone engineer, and also worked part-time as a bouncer at the Cavern Club, where The Beatles performed. Manager Brian Epstein later hired Evans as their assistant road manager, in tandem with Neil Aspinall. He contributed to many Beatle recordings, and appeared in some of the films they made. The Beatles stopped touring in 1966, but Mal carried on assisting the band and working with them in the studio. Mal enjoyed an executive position at Apple until 1969, when Allen Klein was hired as a manager to reorganise the whole company. Mal was fired by Klein the next year, because Klein complained to Lennon that Aspinall and Evans were "living like kings—like f***g emperors", although he was later reinstated after McCartney, Harrison and Starr complained. He produced several songs recorded by the Iveys/Badfinger in 1969 and 1970. The most notable of these is the song "No Matter What" by Badfinger, which charted on Billboard's Top 10 in December 1970. He also produced some tracks for Keith Moon's solo album Two Sides of the Moon and co-wrote "You and Me (Babe)" with George Harrison, which appears on Ringo's solo album, Ringo, in 1973. (tragically Mal was shot dead by police at his LA apartment; he pointed a rifle at the police while upset) b. May 27th 1935.
1979: Charles Mingus (56) American jazz pianist, bassist and bandleader born at a US Army Base in Nogales, Arizona. His compositions retained the hot and soulful feel of hard bop and drew heavily from black gospel music while sometimes drawing on elements of Third stream, free jazz, and classical music. Many musicians passed through his bands and later went on to impressive careers. He recruited talented and sometimes little-known artists whom he assembled into unconventional and revealing configurations. As a performer, he was a pioneer in double bass technique and considered the heir apparent to Duke Ellington. Epitaph is considered to be one of Charles Mingus' masterpieces. The composition is 4,235 measures long, requires two hours to perform, and is one of the longest jazz pieces ever written. (sadly died from Lou Gehrig's disease) b. April 22nd 1922.
1997: Burton Lane/Burton Levy (84) American composer and lyricist; best known for his Broadway musicals, "Finian's Rainbow" and "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever", He also wrote the music for the Broadway shows, Hold On to Your Hats, Laffing Room Only, Junior Miss, and Carmelina. He wrote music for many films such as Dancing Lady, Babes on Broadway, and Some Like it Hot. For a time, he was president of the American Guild of Authors and Composers, during which period he campaigned against music piracy. He also served three terms on the board of directors of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). He is credited with discovering the 11-year-old Frances Gumm aka Judy Garland Lane's best-known songs include "Old Devil Moon," "How are Things In Glocca Morra?", "Too Late Now," "How About You?", and the title song from "On a Clear Day." He shared a Grammy Award in 1965 for Best Broadway Cast Album of the year "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" (?) b. February 2nd 1912.
1998: Salvatore ''Sonny'' Bono (62) American record producer, singer, actor, and politician born in Detroit but attended Inglewood High School in Inglewood, California, but did not graduate. He began his music career working at Specialty Records where his song "Things You Do to Me" was recorded by Sam Cooke, and went on to work for the legendary record producer Phil Spector in the early 1960s as a promotion man, percussionist and "gofer". One of his earliest songwriting efforts was "Needles and Pins" which he co-wrote with Jack Nitzsche. Later in the same decade, he achieved commercial success, along with his then-wife Cher, as part of the singing duo Sonny and Cher. Bono wrote, arranged, and produced a number of hit records with singles like "I Got You Babe" and "The Beat Goes On". He also played a major part in Cher's early solo career with recordings such as "Bang Bang" and "You Better Sit Down Kids". Sonny later went into acting and politics (tragically killed in a skiing accident at a resort near Lake Tahoe) b. February 16th 1935.
1998: Ken Forssi (55) American bassist born in Florida; along with several Sarasota friends, he migrated to Anaheim, California in 1964, and began commuting to the school. At this time, his interest in music became much more intense, he learned new techniques very rapidly. Soon he got the position as bass player in a late-period lineup of The Surfaris, and touring Japan with the band. In 1965 he met Arthur Lee, who then had a band called "Grass Roots", Lee hired Ken as bassist, and they soon officially formed Love. Their music reflected different influences, combining elements of rock and roll, garage rock, folk and psychedelia. Ken can be heard on their first three albums. After Love his talent as a bassist gained him studio session work and offers to join various other rock groups. He played briefly with a band called "The Elves Themselves" and worked on a record with Jimi Hendrix. (sadly died from a brain tumor) b. March 30th 1943.
2003: Doreen Carwithen aka Mary Alwyn (80) British composer, born in Haddenham; she started both piano and violin at age 4. At age 16 she began composing by setting Wordsworth's I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud/Daffodils for voice and piano. In 1941 she entered the Royal Academy of Music and played the cello in a string quartet and with orchestras. She went on to write scores for over 30 films, including Harvest from the Wilderness in 1948; Boys in Brown -1950; Mantrap, released in the U.S. as Man in Hiding -1952; and East Anglian Holiday -1954. She also scored Elizabeth is Queen, the official film of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. Doreen also composed some orchestral music: an overture ODTAA/One Damn Thing After Another -1945; a Concerto for piano and strings -1948; the overture Bishop Rock -1952; a Suffolk Suite -1964 and two award-winning but little-known string quartets. In 1999 a stroke left her paralysed on one side (?) b. November 15th 1922.
2005: Danny Sugerman (50) US music manager; the second manager of the Los Angeles based rock band The Doors, and who wrote several books about Jim Morrison and The Doors, including 'No One Here Gets Out Alive' co-authored with Jerry Hopkins, and the autobiography 'Wonderland Avenue'. He helped film director Oliver Stone with the production of the 1991 movie The Doors. He also managed Iggy Pop, producing his song "Repo Man", and wrote the book Appetite For Destruction: The Days of Guns 'N Roses in 1991 (lung cancer) b. October 10th 1954.
2009: Sam "Bluzman" Taylor (74) American singer-songwriter and guitarist whose music has been recorded by everyone from Elvis Presley and Son Seals to DMX and EPMD. He was part of Joey Dee & The Starlighters when they had their hit "Peppermint Twist" in 1962. Through the 1970s, he spent his days writing, producing, arranging and teaching more notably for 1970s legendary Funk/Soul group B.T Express when they had their No.1 R&B hits "Do It (Til You're Satisfied)" and "Express" in 1974/1975. He was also well known for his own blues work, of more than 12 albums, including "I Came from Dirt" and 2004's "Voice of the Blues", and his appearances at Long Island blues clubs. In 2006 he was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame and just before his death, he released his autobiography "Caught In The Jaws Of The Blues" (heart disease) b. October 25th 1934.
2009: Claude Jeter (94) American gospel music singer, known for his falsetto vocals; one time member of the Dixie Hummingbirds, he formed the Four Harmony Kings in 1938 with his brother and two fellow coal miners, which was later renamed as the Silvertone Singers. After the group was hired by a radio program based in Knoxville, Tennessee that was sponsored by the local Swan Bakery, they were renamed as the Swan Silvertones, the group would eventually become one of the most popular gospel quartets of the post-war era. During the 1950s many of the elements of the group's style resembled the then-prevalent rhythm and blues vocal group style. He received many offers to perform R&B or rock and roll, but rejected them all, citing a commitment he had made to his mother that he would always sing for the Lord () b.October 26th 1914.
2010: Willie Mitchell (81) American soul, R&B, rock and roll, pop and funk music producer and arranger who ran Royal Recording in Memphis, Tennessee. At the age of eight, he began to play the trumpet. While in high school, he was a featured player in popular local big bands. He later formed his own combo, which from time to time included musicians such as trumpeter Booker Little, saxophonists Charles Lloyd, and George Coleman, and pianist Phineas Newborn, Jr. He was maybe better known for his Hi Records label of the 1970s, whose sound was derivative of Booker T and the MG's, releasing albums by a large stable of popular Memphis soul artists, including among others Al Green, Syl Johnson, Ann Peebles and of course himself, as a trumpeter and bandleader he released a few popular singles for his Hi Records in the 1960s, including "Soul Serenade". He released his first solo record in 1963 and made another 16 instrumental albums over the next forty years. Willie and Al Green revived their successful recording partnership in 2003 when Green recorded I Can't Stop. They followed this up in 2005 with Everything's OK (cardiac arrest) b. March 23rd 1928.
2010: Harold Lewis (98) American flute player and session musician born in New York City. Harold was an accomplished flutist and respected studio musician for more than 25 years having worked at Disney, RKO, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Goldwyn, Universal, and Hal Roach Studios, where he performed in numerous motion pictures including "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," "Bambi," "Pinocchio," and his piccolo solo can be heard in "The Three Little Pigs." Other films include "Citizen Kane," "The Ten Commandments," "Gone With the Wind," "Love With the Proper Stranger," "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm," and a number of Laurel and Hardy comedies. Harold was honored to accompany artists such as Mel Torme, Lily Pons, and Jascha Heifetz and to work with numerous talented composers and conductors such as Alfred Newman, George Gershwin, and Elmer Bernstein. (?) b. March 25th 1911.
2011: Keijiro Yamashita (71) Japanese rockabilly singer; he started his career in 1958 at the age of 18, appearing in the “Western Carnival” stage show at the Nihon Gekijo in Tokyo. From there, he quickly found fame as one of the “Rockabilly Sannin Otoko” along with Masaaki Hirao and Mickey Curtis. Despite being hospitalized and undergoing treatment, he performed a dinner show in the Tochigi prefecture on December 26 2010. Sitting in a wheelchair on stage, he extended the performance from its originally scheduled 10 minutes to 40 minutes. Among the songs he performed during the show was his well-known cover of Paul Anka’s “Diana” (cancer) b.????
2011: Brian Rust (88) British jazz discographer and music journalist; born in London, he collected records from the age of 5. He worked in the BBC's record library from 1945-1960, and supervised broadcasting selections. He wrote for The Gramophone from 1948-1970, and wrote freelance from 1960, including copious liner notes for jazz releases. He hosted the Mardi Gras radio program on Capital Radio from 1973-1984. His Jazz Records 1897-1942, revised several times since its initial publication in 1961, is a standard jazz discography (?) b. March 19th 1922.
2012: Amit Saigal (46) Indian rock musician, promoter of rock music, publisher and impresario. Saigal founded the music magazine Rock Street Journal, the first rock magazine in India, and promoted alternative music in India. Amit was also termed as "Papa Rock" by the rock music community of India (sadly drowned while on his boat which was anchored off Bogmalo beach in Goa) b. July 6th 1965.
2012: Hikaru Hayashi (81) Japanese composer, pianist and conductor born in Tokyo. He composed more than 30 operas and was artistic director and resident composer of the Opera Theatre Konnyakuza. His oeuvre also includes symphonic works, works for band, chamber music, choral works, songs and more than 100 film scores. He wrote more than 20 books including Nihon opera no yume / The Dream of Japanese Opera and in 1998 Hikarui won the 30th Suntory Music Award (tragically Hikaru died after collapsing in front of his home hitting his head. He was rushed to the hospital but was unresponsive) b. October 22nd 1931.

January 6.
1942: Emma Calvé/Rosa Emma Calvet (83) French soprano born in Decazeville; she studied the art of singing under Jules Puget. After her debut at the Brussels La Monnaie, she took lessons in Paris from the celebrated teacher Mathilde Marchesi. She made a tour of Italy, where she saw the famous actress Eleonora Duse, whose impersonations made a deep impression on the young singer. She trained herself in stage craft and gesture by closely observing Duse's performances. Emma went on to be probably the most famous French female opera singer of the Belle Époque. Hers was an international career, and she sang regularly and to considerable acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York, and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (?) b. August 15th 1858.
1980: Georgeanna Marie Tillman Gordon (36) American singer brought up in Detroit, she joined a singing group with high school friends Gladys Horton, Georgia Dobbins, Katherine Anderson, and Wyanttea Cowart and called the Casinyets. After coming in second place during a talent contest, the group, now known as The Marvels, went to Motown's Hitsville USA studio and auditioned for the label's head Berry Gordy and leading artist/staffer Smokey Robinson. The group performed well but was required to come back with their own song. Georgia co-wrote the song "Please Mr. Postman" for the group and the Marvels signed to Motown's Tamla label in 1961, Gordy altering their name to the Marvelettes. Georgeanna remained a member from then on until 1965 when her illness began to affect her performances (sadly died young with sickle cell anemia) b. February 5th 1944
1986: Joe Farrell/Joseph Carl Firrantello (48) US jazz saxophonist and flutist; well known for his performance with Chick Corea in Return to Forever, as well as a series of albums under his own name on the CTI label having a major hit with his third album “Moon Gems,” in 1972, backed by top sidemen including Herbie Hancock, Stanley Clarke and Jack DeJohnette. He also recorded with Charles Mingus, The Band, Maynard Ferguson Big Band, Slide Hampton, Andrew Hill, Average White Band, Jaki Byard, Hall & Oates, Fuse One and Elvin Jones among others. He is bettwr known for a series of albums under his own name on the CTI record label and for playing in the initial incarnation of Chick Corea's Return to Forever (died of bone cancer) b. December 16th 1937.
1993: Dizzy Gillespie/John Birks Gillespie (75) American jazz trumpet player, bandleader, singer, and composer dubbed "the sound of surprise", his image is almost inseparable from his trademark trumpet, whose bell bends upward at a 45-degree angle rather than pointing straight ahead as in the conventional design. Born in Cheraw, South Carolina, he started to play the piano at the age of four and taught himself how to play the trombone as well as the trumpet by the age of twelve. His first professional job was with the Frank Fairfax Orchestra in 1935, after which he joined the respective orchestras of Edgar Hayes and Teddy Hill, in 1937. Teddy Hill’s band was where Dizzy Gillespie made his first recording, King Porter Stomp. In 1939, Dizzy joined Cab Calloway's orchestra. During this time started writing big band music for bandleaders like Woody Herman and Jimmy Dorsey. He then freelanced with a few bands, most notably Ella Fitzgerald's orchestra, made up of members of the late Chick Webb's band, in 1942. 1943, saw Dizzy with the Earl Hines orchestra, but in 1945, he left Eckstine's band wanting to play with a small combo and he e and Charlie Parker worked together. After his work with Parker, Dizzie led other small combos, including ones with Milt Jackson, John Coltrane, Lalo Schifrin, Ray Brown, Kenny Clarke, James Moody, J.J. Johnson, and Yusef Lateef and finally put together his first successful big band. Dizzie was a major figure in the development of bebop and modern jazz. He taught and influenced many, many other musicians, including trumpeters Miles Davis, Fats Navarro, Clifford Brown, Arturo Sandoval, Lee Morgan, Jon Faddis and Chuck Mangione. (sadly died of pancreatic cancer) b. October 21st 1917.
1999: Michel Petrucciani (36) French jazz pianist; Michel was born with osteogenesis imperfecta, in his early career his father and brother occasionally carried him, literally, because he could not walk far on his own unaided. Although he trained for years as a classical pianist, an enthusiast of Duke Ellington, and jazz remained his main interest. He gave his first professional concert at the age of 13 and moved to America in 1982, where he successfully encouraged Charles Lloyd to resume playing actively. Then on February 22nd 1985, with Michel cradled in his arms, Charles Lloyd walked onto the stage at Town Hall in New York City and sat Michel on his piano stool for what would be an historic evening in jazz history: the filming of One Night with Blue Note. In 1986 he recorded a live album with Wayne Shorter and Jim Hall. He also played with diverse figures in the US jazz scene including Dizzy Gillespie. In 1994 Michel was granted a Légion d'honneur in Paris (sadly died from a pulmonary infection) b. December 28th 1962.
2003: Hirini Melbourne (53) Maori composer, singer, university lecturer, poet and author, from Ngai Tuhoe and Ngati Kahungunu Maori tribes. He is known in New Zealand for his work surrounding the revival Maori culture. A member of Nga Tamatoa, which petitioned the New Zealand Government to have Maori taught in schools as part of its focus on Maori identity, he also studied at Auckland University and later became the Dean and associate professor of Maori and Pacific development. The power of his melodies and the brilliance of his compositions have still to be widely recognised, although dozens of his now classic songs are sung in classrooms throughout New Zealand. He regularly played with Richard Nunns. This partnership lead to the release of ‘Te Ku Te Whe’, a CD of original and traditional compositions for a variety of Maori flutes which has been awarded a Gold Disc Award. A second CD together with a DVD ‘Te Hekenga-a-rangi’ was released in 2003. In 2002 Hirini was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Waikato where he had been a lecturer in the Department of Maori. He was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2003 New Year’s Honours just before his untimely death a week later (?) b. 21 July 1949.
2005: Les Robinson (90) American jazz musician; started on the trumpet, but famous for playing and recording alto-sax and sometimes clarenet with the big swing bands of Artie Shaw, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Howard Thomas to mention just a few. He was Artie Shaw's lead alto on the classic "Begin the Beguine" and he is all Artie Shaw's recordings from 1937 to 1939 (?) b. November 10th 1914
2006: Louis Allen "Lou" Rawls (72) American jazz, soul, R&B singer-songwriter born in Chicago. Lou was a high school classmate of Sam Cooke, they sang together in the Teenage Kings of Harmony, a '50s gospel group. After 3 years in the US Army as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division, leaving as a sergeant, he travelled to LA with The Pilgrim Travelers. While touring the South in 1958 with the Travelers and Sam Cooke, he was in a serious car crash. Lou was pronounced dead before arriving at the hospital, it took him nearly a year to fully recuperate, allowing him to perform at the Hollywood Bowl in 1959. This led him to be signed to Capitol Records. His debut Capitol solo release, a jazz album, Stormy Monday (a.k.a. I'd Rather Drink Muddy Water) was the first of 28 albums made with Capitol. As well as his recording and touring career, he appeared as an actor in motion pictures and on television, and voiced-over many cartoons. He had been called "The Funkiest Man Alive". In 1967 Lou won his first Grammy Award for Best R&B Vocal Performance, for the single "Dead End Street" and he performed the national anthem of the United States, "The Star Spangled Banner", prior to the Earnie Shavers-Muhammad Ali title fight at Madison Square Garden. They requested him to sing the anthem many times over the next 28 years. Although he was seriously ill with cancer, his final performance there, was on October 23rd, 2005 at the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros, Game Two of the 2005 World Series. (complications of lung and brain cancers) b. December 1st 1933.
2007: Sneaky/Pete Kleinow (72) American pedal steel guitarist, co-founded influential 1960s country rock group the Flying Burrito Brothers; born in South Bend, Indiana, he originally worked as a special effects artist and stop motion animator for movies and television, including the Gumby, Outer Limits, and Davey and Goliath series. He also sat in with Bakersfield Sound-oriented combos and early country-rock aggregations playing the pedal steel guitar. This is where he became acquainted with Chris Hillman and Gram Parsons of The Byrds, helping the group to replicate their newly country-oriented sound onstage with banjoist Doug Dillard. After leaving the Byrds, in 1968, Parsons and Hillman invited Pete to join their new band, the Flying Burrito Brothers. He left behind his career in visual effects and spent the next thirteen years as a professional musician. He became an in demand session player for an eclectic range of artists, including Joe Cocker, Delaney, Bonnie and Friends and Little Feat. In 1972 Sneaky teamed up with Laramy Smith in the super group ARIZONA. He also added steel guitar to records by Frank Zappa, the Bee Gees, John Lennon, Linda Ronstadt and Fleetwood Mac. In 1974 Pete was part of a new band, Cold Steel, and then a reconstituted Flying Burrito Brothers. His first solo album, Sneaky Pete, was released in 1978 and The Legend and the Legacy followed in 1994. He had also returned to special effects and created the dinosaurs for the comic film Caveman (1981), starring Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach. In 1983, his work on the television miniseries The Winds of War was recognized with an Emmy Award for Special Visual Effects.Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Pete created special effects for movies such as The Empire Strikes Back, Gremlins, The Right Stuff, The Terminator, and Terminator 2, while continuing to work sporadically as a professional musician. In 2000, Kleinow formed a group called Burrito Deluxe, the name of a 1970 Flying Burrito Brothers album. The group recorded three albums, Georgia Peach, The Whole Enchilada and 2007's Disciples Of The Truth, which feature his last studio recordings. Pete's last performance was at a 2005 Gram Parsons tribute concert in Waycross, Georgia, the home town of Gram Parsons (complications of Alzheimer's disease) b. August 20th 1934.
2008: Seymour Marvin "Cy" Leslie (75) American music and video executive, he began his career by founding Voco Records, producing record greeting cards and children's records. He later e founded Pickwick Records, and was the first president and founder of MGM/UA Home Entertainment Group. Pickwick Records aimed to make music more affordable, and carried such artists as Elvis Presley at various times. MGM Home Video was the first company to enter the home video business, which today has become the home entertainment industry including DVD and other sales (?) b. December 16th 1922.
2009: {date his death was announced} Ronald Frank Asheton (60) American guitarist and co-songwriter with Iggy Pop and rock band The Stooges ~ b. July 17th 1948... MORE INFO
2009: Maria Dimitriadi (58) Greek singer, born in Athens; she was considered a "total voice" and one of the most renowned performers of the songs of Mikis Theodorakis and Thanos Mikroutsikos. She primarily connected with political left-wing songs during the Junta and Metapolitefsi era in Greece, but she also experimented with other styles and genres, of a more lyrical tone (sadly died from a rare lung disease) b. April 11th 1950.
2011: Richard Wiedamann (78) German pianist, composer and cultural mediator born in Regensburg. In 1982 he was co-founder of the Jazz Weekend in the Old Town of Regensburg, initially with 15 Bands and 6000 mark budget. In 1987 he founded the National Youth Jazz Orchestra of Bavaria, he was the organization manager for 10 years until his move to Marktoberdorf. Shortly before his death he was awarded the Cultural Prize of the City of Regensburg 2010th (?) b. May 14th 1932.
2012: W. Francis McBeth (78) American composer, whose wind band works are highly respected. His primary musical influences included Clifton Williams, Bernard Rogers, and Howard Hanson. The popularity of his works in the United States during the last half of the twentieth century led to many invitations and appearances as a guest conductor, where he often conducted the premiere performances of some of his compositions, the majority of which were commissioned. His conducting activities have taken him to forty-eight states, three Canadian provinces, Japan, and Australia. At one time, his "Double Pyramid Balance System" was a widely used pedagogical tool in the concert band world. As well as been honoured with several awards, from '57 until his retirement in 1996, he taught at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. (?) b. March 9th 1933.
2012: Tom Ardolino (56) American drummer; he joined the Miami rock band, New Rhythm and Blues Quartet aka NRBQ in 1974 when original drummer Tom Staley departed. Tom remained behind the drums for the next 30 years, playing on 15 studio albums and countless live shows, until the group went on hiatus in 2004. NRBQ is known for its live performances, containing a high degree of spontaneity and levity, and blending rock, pop, jazz, blues and Tin Pan Alley styles. Although he played at NRBQ reunion concerts in the intervening years, Tom wasn’t well enough to resume drum duties when keyboardist Terry Adams reconstituted the band with a new lineup in 2011. As a resident of Springfield, Massachusetts, Tom appeared in a promotional video to campaign for the world premiere of The Simpsons Movie in Springfieldand he also released a solo album "Unknown Brain" was released in 2004 (sadly Tom died following a long illness) b. January 12th 1955.